3A Case StudyA child is a human that is socially, psychologically, and biologically less developed than an adult(James & James, 2008). Through history and culture, views, values, and beliefs differ. WithinAustralian and English culture, ideas about children, along with shared adult/child relationships havegrown, although in other cultures, views on children haven’t changed (Montgomery, 2019). Imageone is a representation of a strict schooling system, depicting the view of children as adults-in-training(Sorin & Galloway, 2006),whereas image two is an example of a flexible, interactive learningapproach representing an opposing view of children as innocent (Sorin & Galloway, 2006).Contextand societal experiences change the way children are viewed, although, the role of adults as beingthe ‘carer’ and ‘protector’ has remained consistent throughout all cultures (Sorin & Galloway, 2006).Ultimately, the way a child is viewed, can be a reflection on the way a person, society, or culture viewsthemselves.Childhood is a social construct, meaning theunderstanding of childhood is not the same everywhere.While all societies acknowledge children and adults differ, the society a person lives in changes howthey differ, and the expectations placed on children (Montgomery, 2019).A society moves through social acceptance and generalised opinion. When opinions and viewschange, it is an example of societal growth. The first image is a representation of children in schoolaround the 1930’s within English and Australian culture. School was about preparing children foradulthood. Within the 1930’s, England and Australia were dealing with effects of WWI, including thegreat depression, a developing understanding of mental health, and a new understanding and fear ofmodernised weapons. The social construct of children was them seen as adults-in-training. Therewere extreme expectations held over children to achieve certain outcomes through standardisedtesting (Sorin & Galloway, 2006).Opposingly in the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic, children were seen asincapable of understanding, resulting in a treatment of tolerance and leniency, until they are at an ageof comprehension (Montgomery, 2019).
