The ‘Normal’ Child

The ‘Normal’ Child

Since the beginning of education for children, the focus has been on creating the ‘normal’ child, the well-adapted, beautiful, useful child. As a support for economics, medicine and psychology, education has contributed since the 18th century at the latest to making sure children can be used for social and economic purposes – by means of control, regulation and humiliation and at the expense of children’s independence and creative, autonomous action.
This book takes a fresh look at the history of the darker side of education by showing how children were turned into standardised commodities as it developed. The author sheds light on some facets of childhood which have been taboo up to now and shows how, historically and still today, the educational aim of this darker side of education has continuously spread and been consolidated in kindergartens, schools and other educational institutions as well as in cultural practices.

Target Group
Educational staff