This month’s theme is looking back to look forward – a number of angles on the history of child care which may affect the way we look at things. These articles are scattered throughout the issue, so we start with an introduction to the theme and an explanation of why history is important.
Among the articles on the theme are:
- Keith White helping ‘Suzy’ to go through her child care records;
- Professor Roy Parker on the way that the landmark 1908 Children Act was got through Parliament;
- an account of the Court Lees Affair, a high profile event in the late 1960s which helped to shape residential child care;
- Kathleen Lane on whether residential workers want to be professional;
- a piece on Family Group Homes;
We have two items from other countries:
The first, by Lucky Jacobs, tells of a Youth Congress in South Africa, and what the children learnt from it.
The second is a report from CORE of National Residential Education Day – an idea other countries could pick up from the States.
We have another brilliant chapter by A.J. Stone on Aaron, a boy in residential care.
Valerie Jackson has written about the importance of fathers parenting.
Stephen Studd welcomes the Government’s new play strategy guidance.
The Editorial looks at the best use of resources – as the Government is doing.
The two Key Texts this month both relate to children coming to terms with their predicaments and learning to act socially:
- Anna Freud’s study of children brought up in a concentration camp, and
- the classic by Virginia Axline – Dibs in Search of Self.
And we have four book reviews:
- Phil Carradice: Nautical Training Ships: An Illustrated History
- Siobhan Maclean, Iain Maclean and Mark Shiner: From Birth to Eighteen Years: Children and the Law
- Julie Lynn Evans: What about the Children? How to help children survive separation and divorce
- Siobhan Maclean and Mark Shiner: Leadership in Children’s Services