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Childhood and Schooling of the Young

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Handbook of Historical Studies in Education

Part of the book series: Springer International Handbooks of Education ((SIHE))

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Abstract

This chapter traces the evolution of thinking and provision in relation to the schooling of young children from antiquity to modern times. Key milestones in relation to developments on the conceptualization of children and schooling are documented. These milestones are contextualized within the wider societal influences that catalyzed thinking relating to education, including social, religious, economic and cultural stimuli. A particular focus is placed on the advent of mass schooling in the nineteenth century and the debates and tensions that emerged as countries explored the possibilities of providing schooling to all children. Issues around class and gender are integral to this exploration. Three case studies, one relating to Ireland, one to Sweden, and one to England, illuminate the societal response in these jurisdictions to the demand for universal education. More recent developments in the extension of educational provisions to younger children and to children beyond compulsory schooling, as well as the impact of transnational policies on education, are explored in the concluding section.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Maynooth University, Maynooth, Republic of Ireland

    Thomas Walsh

  2. Department of Education, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland

    Thomas Walsh

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  1. Thomas Walsh
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Correspondence to Thomas Walsh .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Education, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia

    Tanya Fitzgerald

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Walsh, T. (2019). Childhood and Schooling of the Young. In: Fitzgerald, T. (eds) Handbook of Historical Studies in Education. Springer International Handbooks of Education. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0942-6_14-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0942-6_14-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-0942-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-0942-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference EducationReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Education

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