Monday 22 June 2015

Childhood and Humanism

Our next meeting will be a discussion on The History, Biology and Future of Childhood.
The 9th July 7.30pm at the White Rock Hotel

In a world driven by accelerating rates change, it is almost universally agreed that the future prosperity of our nation will depend on a well-educated workforce.  And yet we have an education system in which both the children and the teachers are increasingly disenchanted by the whole process, and levels of child poverty on the increase again.

The concept of childhood emerged during the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly through the educational theories of the philosopher John Locke and the growth of books for and about children. And it only ends when the child becomes an adult – which varies considerably. So how much longer will our current concept of childhood last?

So does the latest information about the way in which our brains get re-wired during adolescence and early adulthood, offer any pointers as to how we should change things in the future?

Please bring along your opinions for this interesting debate.

Stephen Milton