Constructing the American Child in the 1920's: Radio Programs for Parents.

Abstract

To explore dominant theoretical influences on parent education, emerging views of child nature and development, and implicit strategies for recruiting parental agreement and participation, this study analyzed Talk, a 1920s parent education program produced by child psychologists in Minnesota. A qualitative analysis of the transcripts revealed that in the 1920s, parental induction into the new scientific view of childhood was facilitated by heightening self-doubt and self-evaluation, by undermining confidence in intuitive modes of knowing, and by encouraging parents to adopt a scientific epistemological stance. The new view of childhood emphasized its unique and distinct needs, thus polarizing childhood and adulthood. Parents were encouraged to shift attention from physical aspects of the home environment to intangible emotional and relational aspects. Unlike other forms of popular child-rearing advice in the 1920s, Radio Talks were written and delivered by academic psychologists, and thus demonstrate more vividly early attempts to ground expert child-rearing advice in particular scientific ideas, as seen in the incorporation of well-known research, emerging scientific constructs, and an emphasis on cause-and-effect relationships. (MM) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** SRCD Presentation March, 1993 U.B. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received Iron, the Dyson Of organization originating it 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction Quality a Points of view or opinions staled in INSdOCu ment do not necessarily represent officral OEM position or PoltcY Page 1 Constructing the American Child in the 1920's: Rcidio Programs for Parents Ann Johnson University of St. Thomas -PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY

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