The first in a series of six public talks on various Images of Childhood takes place tomorrow evening (Wednesday October 16, 6.30pm) at the University of Aberdeen King's College Conference Centre.
The first talk, entitled 'Childhood Forgotten', will be given by Dr Paul Standish, Department of Education, University of Dundee. This public talk will examine concepts of childhood and discuss how such views may have become confused in the minds of legislators. Dr Standish will identify some of the views that are particularly reflected in current Scottish Executive educational policy and highlight various images of childhood that often exist in conflict.
Tomorrow evening's lecture is the first in a series of six public talks designed to raise awareness amongst all those involved in educating young people that various images of childhood exist. Tomorrow's talk looks at the issue from a philosophical viewpoint, but other speakers in the series consider images of childhood from other perspectives, such as the law and art. Dr Iain Davidson, lecture series organiser said: "This series emphasises the continuous need for clear, hard thinking as the basis of educational legislation, research and practice; perhaps in contrast to political positions that are not often properly thought through."
The Images of Childhood lecture series has been organised by the University of Aberdeen Faculty of Education in memory of John Darling, a distinguished educational philosopher who was on the staff of the University until he died of cancer in 2002, just after the establishment of the new Faculty of Education. More information is available at website: www.abdn.ac.uk/johndarling.
