Research On Concept Of Children In America In The Late Nineteenth Century And The Early Twentieth Century

Concept of children refers to the way how adults regard,treat,and evaluate children.That is the sum of the thoughts,ideas and attitude for children.It influences total social arrangements for children,such as,educational practices,children conservation,welfare policies,social life and family life.Research on concept of children is of great significance to educational development and reformation.Changing of concept of children is a prerequisite to educational reformation and it plays a foundation role in the process.Throughout history of education,every time,changing of the concept of children is the core to the changing of educational ideas and practices.The late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century for America is the key period for reformation of concept of children historically,which provides scientific foundation and conceptual preparation for modem concept of children.The research is on concept of children in America in the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century,investigate concept of children of this period in different era,collate evolution of children's views from horizontal aspects and compare from vertical aspects.In order to present the situation of children in a comprehensive way,the research is carried out from three horizontal aspects,they are literary works for children,the child study movement in American,social life of children and also the research will compare and analyze the concept of children of these different aspects.Through reorganizing and analyzing the documents,the dissertation will finally discuss the tension and value of the concept of children and sum up historical experience.The dissertation totally consists of five parts.The first chapter mainly introduces the origin of this topic and the significance of it.It also summarizes the current research status and its deficiency,study methods and concept definitions.The second chapter introduces the concept of children of the literary works for children in America in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century.The novels chosen are The Adventure of Tom Sawyer,The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn,The Secret Garden,The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,Black Pearls,in which the children can reflect the concepts of children.The third chapter focuses on the child study movement in American and some concepts of children involved,and mainly introduces ideas of children of Stanley Hall and John Dewey and the influences.The fourth chapter introduces concept of children in different fields of social life,including school life,family life and some social policies.The fifth chapter concludes the differences of concepts of children in conceptual world,also reflects the differences of concepts of children and social practice,and sums up the tension and value of the concepts of children.