The St Paul's Institute is running a series of debates around the issue of childhood:
Where do babies come from?’ Children, parents and contemporary society
16 October 2007, 6.30pm - 8.00pm
Do
we see children as a blessing, a right or a lifestyle choice? For the
first time in human history, we expect to have control over when we
have children, and to some extent, what children we have. This opening
discussion considers whether both increasing affluence and advances in
fertility treatment and genetics have led to the commodification of
children, and how attitudes to children are affected by a market-driven
society.
Can I have some more? Childhood and consumerism
23 October 2007, 6.30pm - 8.00pm
Products for children have become big business, and children are increasingly the targets of advertising campaigns and marketing strategies. Meanwhile, the UK has one of the highest child poverty rates in Europe. What impact does consumerism have on child development? What are the present and long term spiritual, psychological and ethical consequences of childhood consumerism?
Must try harder? Education in the 21st century
30 October 2007, 6.30pm - 8.00pm
What
is education for? To what extent is education an investment in ’human
capital’ - equipping children with skills useful to the economy? In an
increasingly competitive global economy is there pressure to sacrifice
a well-balanced childhood to global economic forces?
Are we nearly there yet? Towards a good childhood
6 November 2007, 6.30pm - 8.00pm
This
final discussion will take up the issues raised throughout the series
to consider what makes for a good childhood - and the grounding of a
good adulthood. What are the implications for educationalists, policy
makers, spiritual leaders and parents?
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