Family in Europe History - Coursework Example

Reading Assignment Answers Describe the challenges of survival that faced children in the past. According to the text, children in the Western world faced the horrible situation and unanimity that was clearly visible there was quite a threat. Early death was one of the main factors, which were uncontrollable. Apart from the deaths, which took place because of the premature birth or any other reason, there were many diseases, which tormented their lives. “Worms” was considered to be one of the main causes of deaths of children. Generally these worms were found in the drinking water. Disorders in the children’s intestine and stomach were the main diseases, which were also followed by malnutrition. They were also the victims of epidemics. Some of the deadliest diseases starting from smallpox to measles all made their life troubled. Even in the early days of the 20th century, they often became prey to the diseases like whooping cough, diphtheria, scarlet fever, and mumps. Luck was the only doctor who could treat them. As a matter of fact, medical science had not reached the advanced state yet to look after the poor lives. It was almost impossible to count how many babies died like this because the parish registers did not bother to enlist the dead babies’ names. These pitiful instances show that only six babies out of every ten could survive. Some of them, again, died even before reaching the age of ten years. As for the rest is concerned, most of them died within one month of being born. If someone put the statistics together and try to work out an average rate of death rate, it will show something terrible. Going like this every family tried to have two children as there was a fifty-fifty chance for the survival of any one of them. 2. In general, how were children perceived and treated by adults? This has been quite a controversial matter to state clearly how the adults treated babies in the past. There are some scholars who say that indifference and harshness towards them were two of the main aspects, which were commonly seen. Recurrent child death was a big issue in the Western society and this might be a reason for the indifference. Adults tried to avoid closeness with the little angels as they could not be sure how long the babies are going to stay with them. In this way they shirked the chance of becoming grief-stricken. Men were concerned about growing their families with more babies. The main reason of giving birth of more babies was certainly the high death rate among them. However, death rate was high among the poor as the parents could not arrange for proper treatments. This was also why the birth rate in the poor families was so high. They tried to make it sure that at least one of the babies is going to stay with them. Helpless people could do nothing about the loss of babies and this is why they became more depended on religious believes. According to one of the beliefs, the babies did not have any individuality and their deaths were just a part of the mysterious game which is played from heaven. Grief from the parents after losing their child was occasional and the loss was so common that they had become a kind of used to it. Stillborn babies were even taken to the churches and baptized before they were buried. The social practice of natural and substitute mother was also a strange thing. We all know about the importance of breast milk of its own mother to a baby. But, the baby was very often given an alternative of human milk or breastfed by another woman. The author has shown example that this practice is still in use in the United States of America. 3. How did society’s views of children change and why? Eighteenth century was undoubtedly a century for numerous changes that took place during this era. We all know about the enlightenment, which took place during this century, and this was certainly associated with the educational field. But, as far as the life of children is concerned, the eighteenth century changes were not all good for them. Some of the changes in fact made their lives miserable to a great amount. The onus of enlightenment was obviously on the human beings and this is why social hierarchy was given less importance. Sentiment towards the people dying was seen more than it was ever seen in the previous centuries and it had almost become a newborn cult in their society. Some of the actions related to death were even ridiculed by a few people. Eternal punishments and some other religious ideas were not taken seriously any more as people became more interested in judging things from a rational point of view. This is why deaths of children were not any more a matter of great sorrow for the parents across the Western world. As a matter of fact, the number of child death was on an ever increase and this was why their parents were almost habituated in losing children. Their deaths had become a matter of numbers and their existence too. Men were interested in making a greater number of children so that they can continue with their family tree. They looked after the business of upbringing the surviving children more than thinking about the babies who died and suffered from deadly diseases. 4. Describe the training and schooling of children. School life was not regarded as a necessary part of the children’s life. Of course, there were differences in many strata of the society regarding the importance of sending children to schools. Only those who believed in the importance of sending their children outside home opted for schools and on the other hand, in many of the houses, there were arrangements for the children to learn at their homes. From this point of view homes were the alternative of schools. There was another concept of apprenticeship where the children could get enough opportunity to learn many things. Even before going to the formal schools, the children got the scope to learn many things in their homes for at least seven years. Span of apprenticeship varied a lot. Sometimes they lasted for a few months and sometimes up to the seventeen years of age of the children. In case of apprenticeship, the students had to live in the house of their masters. A master played a great dual role of a father and also that of a teacher. Apprenticeship was a compulsory education for many. There was, however, a tendency among many masters to use their apprentices as servants. The educational processes of the apprentices were never smooth. Yet this is true that an apprentice with a long experience was always valued in the society. Schools, on the other hand were a lot different from the apprentices’ world. This was the place for formal education, but they were mainly made for boys. Education for women was not an important matter until then. They were more trained in household jobs rather than formal education. Most of the schools in Europe and America were founded by Catholic organizations and this is why Christianity was always a base for the children’s education. 5. How did the raising of children differ in simple and complex societies? There are strong differences on the cultural and other fields among all the societies. Therefore every society, whether simple or complex, tries to raise their children according to their own traditions. Education for the children in a simple society was a lot different from that of a complex society. In a complex society professional life of the student became the main purpose of his education. Families in the complex society were deeply concerned about maintaining their status and therefore earning money in a socially established way was the main purpose of education. It was not an acceptable situation if a family lost its respect in the complex society for any child from their home. This was why mannerism and disciplines were the integral part of their raising the children up. On the other hand, a totally different picture was seen in the simple society. In this type of society most of the families were economically based on agriculture or any other unsophisticated profession. Raising a child in strict discipline and mannerism was never their path of education. Moreover, it was hardly their motive to see their children becoming the elite class in the society. This was why highly status profession was never their target. So their raising up a child and his educational process were completely based on the professions in which they were interested. A child grown up in this type of society had completely different feelings towards his environment and he never tried to go beyond his limits and capacity. His emotions were, too, limited to a small group. 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