|
The
Teaching Column
Paper from the 2001 SHCY Conference
J. M. Hawes, "Syllabus for 'History of American Childhood'"
|
History
4863: History of American Childhood
Instructor:
J. M. Hawes, Professor of History, Memphis University
hawesjm@msuvx1.memphis.edu
Purpose of the course:
This is a writing-intensive course designed to introduce students
to the
broad outline of the rich history of children in American society.
The principal focus of the course is on the public aspects of
children's lives, on public discourse about children, and on the
development of public policy toward children. Because of the dearth
of information pertaining to the Colonial period, the course will
concentrate on the 19th and 20th centuries. So far as is possible,
this will be a multi-cultural, gendered look at children and youth
in the American past.
In
addition to the content of the course, great emphasis in this
particular course focuses on
methods of understanding--especially the use of various types
of writing as means to enhance
understanding.
Writing requirements:
The two principal writing requirements of this course are the
journal and the autobiography of a students' childhood. The journal
is an evolving personal record of thoughts about and reactions
to the reading materials and to issues that appear in class discussion.
Journals will be collected periodically. Please see the hand-outs
on journals and autobiographies for further information. Examinations
will be predominantly essay in format; they will be written in
class from notes and with the use of the texts read by the class
as a whole.
Expectations:
As this is a discussion-based class and as there are regular quizzes,
regular attendance is strongly urged. Students who prefer not
to write an autobiography should see the instructor to work out
an alternate paper topic.
About
Journals and Autobiographies
Journals: Please obtain a soft-sided, loose-leaf binder
for your journal. Journals may be hand- written on standard loose-leaf
paper or they may be typed (or computer-generated). If you type
your entries, use a three-hole punch to prepare the sheets for
the binder. Journal entries should be made for each reading assignment.
Please try to resist the temptation to summarize the readings--the
purpose of the journal is reflection and analysis. Consider some
of the following questions as guides to your journal writing:
1)
What was the purpose of the assigned chapter?
2) What sorts of sources or evidence does the author use?
3) How convincing is the chapter?
4) How does this reading relate to other readings?
5) Was the class discussion of this material effective?
6) What questions does the reading or the discussion raise in
your mind?
Journals
will be taken up several times during the semester, so please
keep them up to date.
Autobiographies:
The subject is your own childhood. Please write an account of
your own
childhood, noting what you consider to be the important turning
points in your life. Where possible, please try to relate the
events of your life to the themes of the course (life cycle, family
roles, societal changes, etc.). Autobiographies will be kept strictly
private. You are encouraged to include photographs and all papers
and photographs will be returned. Typically autobiographies run
about 10 typewritten pages. Please note that if you prefer not
to write an autobiography, you may do a more traditional term
paper. Please see the instructor if wish this option.
Texts: HH= Hawes & Hiner, Growing Up in America; Clem
= Clement, Growing Pains; Kunz =
Kunzel, Fallen Women, Problem Girls; Nasaw = Nasaw, Children of
the City; Berrol = Berrol,
Growing Up American; EMP = Elder, Modell, and Park, Children in
Time and Place. About History 4863
Date - Topic - Reading Assignment
8-26 Introduction to the Course
8-28 Colonial Children HH #s 1, 2
9-2 Colonial Children, II HH #s 3, 4
9-4 19th Century Children HH 5
9-9 19th Century, II HH 6, 7
9-11 More 19c Children Clem. Chs. 1,2
9-16 Yet more 19c Clem, 3
9-18 School and Work Clem. 4, 5
9-23 Play, Clem 6
9-25 Poverty & Trouble Clem 7 & Concl.
9-30 Slavery Ended? HH 10, 11
10-2 Minority Children HH 12, 13
10-7 No Class Fall Break
10-9 The Girl Problem Kunz Intro, 1,2
10-14 Problem Girls Kunz 3, 4
10-16 Mid Term Examination
10-21 City Kids Nasaw 1-3; Berrol 1
10-23 School and Work Nasaw 4-7; Berrol 2
10-28 Play Nasaw 8-10; Berrol 3
10-30 Unions and Parents Nasaw 11-13; Berrol 4, 5
11-4 Girl Problems EMP 5, 6 ; Kunz 5
11-6 Study Day--work on autobiographies or journals
11-11 Depression and War EMP 2, 3; Kunz 6
11-13 Death and Government HH 14, 15
11-18 The stoop and Spock HH 16, 17
11-20 Child Development EMP 9, 10
11-25 Historians? EMP 11
12-2 Autobiographies, Journals and Review
12-9 10:30a FINAL EXAMINATION
Course
Requirements:
5 quizzes @ 20 points each 100
2 Examinations @ 200 points each 400
Autobiography or paper 200
Journal 400
Total 1100
