SOCIOLOGY OF CHILDHOOD 
                                                                              11-12:15 TTh Room 302
                                                                       Office Hours and Phone
                                                                                               
                                                        WEEK FINALS Fall 2017
 ASSIGNMENTS:  Read chapter Nine, Ten in text. 
  29 November 2016      The text points out that pre-school cildren learn their peer groups at this age and that a great deal of the learning centers on control. This control is not specifically universal because its nature depends on the environment and often ethnicity of the adult milieu. I t suggested that if the "control" was not learned in a directed way the child, later on in life, may again look to control and this may not be to others nor their benefit because it would come in the form of compensation. To that end, it was also suggested this may be the foundation of bullying and a solution could possibly be to attack and ameliorate the source of the lack of control to "right" the bully's behaviour. It was also suggested that this therapeutic approach had its difficulties by some of the examples the students suggested. zB: if one substituted a beneficial control for a bullying control, the this would diminish the problem, but one student pointed out that this had been done in that there were young adults in high school that were bullies, yet were also editors of the school paper as well as other positions of authority so that another approach was to be looked at next class.  

  on-line class for 27 November: Language and rituals are important in the society of the family. It gives the members place and security and control. The rituals of children are important and emblematic of shared values. Often these rituals challenge adult authority and may be a major theme of kids. Sometimes they do what they are told but do it in such a way as to mock adult authority. The use of an imaginary world is common in animals and friends as examples. They will talk to tem and play with them as if they were actually there. Children who establish communal play also establish specific kinds of behaviour involving peer rituals and kids cultural values. This is gaining control through challenging adult authority.

Suggestions and Class Calendar: Regularly read assignments for clarifications and guidance in class discussions. Cell phones OFF in class because this is a university policy. Emergency calls are handled professionally through the college receptionist. No eating in class. Recording is permitted, but it is not a sound method of study. There is no substitute for hard work! Because discussion is emphasized, often it is difficult to predict exactly where we will be from week to week. Therefore, a semester/ weekly schedule is not presented. The "assignments" and "week numbers" will give where we have been and where we will go.