Farewell to childhood

Abstract

In an increasingly technological and consumerist society, children too are caught up in changes that lead people to say: ‘Childhood is over’. It is true that children’s rights are recognised today as never before; they have all sorts of toys and computers. But it seems as though a ‘robot child’ is being created, one who must sit and study, listening to the teacher’s endless explanations, and watch a lot of television in their spare time. Although the Department for Education is implementing reforms, the demand comes from society, for whom science and technology together represent progress. It is important to consider the consequences of this and ask ourselves some questions.