CD 310

Who is responsible for making sure children are safe? Why isn't there enough day care? Why do teachers and social workers need credentials and licenses? Should children receive rewards for good behavior? Who gets to decide what is best for children? CD 310 explores the foundations of these and other questions.

In this course we examine some of the events and ways of thinking that have shaped the experiences of children and families in the United States and the work of child development professionals. We ask fundamental questions about how our past influences our present and future.

Theories of knowledge, learning and childhood have combined with issues of citizenship, oppression, access, ability, ownership, progress, science, technology and national identity to define membership in our communities, the way we raise and educate our children and the services we provide to families and individuals. These struggles intertwine with social, economic, intellectual and political events in every age to create institutions and paradigms regarding children and families that are unique to the United States.

Course Prerequisites: no specific courses are required prerequisites. Prior completion of Perspectives: Life Span Development and Child and Society is highly recommended.

Students entering this course are expected to have a basic knowledge of US history, child growth and development and family theory.

Perspectives:

History and Theory

CD 310 involves, lecture, discussion, some small group work (mostly in class), reading, writing, research and computer work.

Recomended Related Reading: (avalable at HSU bookstore)

Paciorek, K.M. & Munro, J.H. (1999). Sources: Notable selections in early childhood education. 2nd ed.

Knox, C. (2003). Our youngest citizens (packet)

Related Child Development courses

This course builds on content in CD 251 Child and Society, CD 253, 255 and 256-the child growth and development sequence.

This course provides foundational content for CD 352 Parent Child Relations, CD 366 Exceptional Children and Their Families, CD 467 Working with Culturally Diverse Families and CD 469 Comtemporary Issues.