Should the role of children in society be revisited?


The more things change, the more they remain the same, at least for some societies. Berry Mayall, Professor of Childhood Studies at UCL's Institute of Education, writes:

'Some children saw school as something that took up their days when they could have been working. Others tolerated it, as seemingly unavoidable. Some combined school attendance with working before and after school hours. A few who were clever, saw possibilities for advancement: by going, via an exam, on to secondary school. From there they could hope for a steady job that would bring money to their family.

School days, for most children, were long and tedious; but they were taught the basics: reading and writing and arithmetic; and these were useful in later life. For once they had left school, to work in factories and fields, they could go on learning through libraries (free!) and newspapers; their political education continued. School –leavers joined unions and clubs that offered education and companionship.'



Read Berry Mayall's article on the IOE London Blog to find out how the role of children has been changing. 
Video credit: Thanks to AroundMeBD for posting this video on YouTube. 






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