CONCLUSION
From the research that has been provided it would be right to suggest that in previous eras there was much harsh treatment of children that would not be tolerated now. Nevertheless there is much academic controversy about the historical development of the notion of childhood. Some researchers such as Pollock (1983) have taken a biological essentialist line whereas researchers such as Aries (1962) have adopted a social constructionist stance. The former hold the view that childhood is biological given which governs and determines the behaviour of children and parents. Contrary to this there is the opinion of the social constructionists who believe that the notion of childhood illustrates a way thinking about the young. This thinking is determined by both social and economic values. Unlike most social constructionists Aries has taken an extreme approach and has gone on to say argue that until the sixteenth century there was no concept of childhood and that the difference between children simply didn't exist. …
