The Australian Child Of The Future...(1951).
The State Library of Western Australia's Facebook page published an article on 'How did the experts in 1951 imagine the Australian child of today to be like...'
The article was supported with some wonderful photographs of children from the State Library of Western Australia's photograph collection.
No copyright infringement intended.
THE CHILD OF THE FUTURE
How did the experts in 1951, imagine the Australian child of today to be like?
In an article in the Sun, feature writer Lou d'Alput wrote that the outlook for the child of tomorrow, was a happy one.
The child of the future will enjoy the boundless gifts of advancing technology she wrote. Travelling to the outposts of the world with ease and proofed against disease and discomfort.
'His' meals (according to scientists) will be prepared electronically. His clothes, warm and lightweight, stamped out by a machine. His society well-ordered without industrial upheaval. Strikes, shortages and despair unheard of.
Others also had their say.
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Officer, F Priest, told the Sun, that there was "no doubt" the child of the future would accept toys driven by atomic energy, with no more wonderment than the child of 1951 accepted a clockwork train.
“Who knows? Children of the future may ride to the moon in rockets, or something like them.” He suggested.
Priest but did stress though the importance of guarding against the "world of machines" becoming a "cold one" - neglectful of the "art of living” – religion, justice and the rights of the individual.
The Director General of Education in 1951, JG McKenzie, was certain that the average child of tomorrow would be vastly more literate than his grandfather, more self-reliant and have a much broader outlook on life.
This would be due to tremendous ongoing advances in education and teaching standards. Open education, more freedoms, and spontaneity of expression.
NSW University of Technology Director A. Denning told the Sun that he believed that tomorrow’s child would benefit from the atomic age. Which would bring with it a whole host of labor-saving methods, meaning greater leisure time for workers and families.
The Director General of Public Health Dr E.S. Morris said that the life expectation of the future child would be much greater. In 1951 the live expectancy for males was only 66 years and 70.6 years for females.
Modern sanitation, control of epidemics and the general advances in preventative medicine would only improve his health.
He would also be "taller, leaner and longer muscled", according to NSW Physical Education Director, Gordon Young. Because of the accent in physical education on agility rather than just static exercises.
"Australians of the future will no doubt be superbly – built people, remarkably healthy.” Young said.
Finally, Australian Institute of Industrial Psychology principal, Edith Bothwell told the Sun, she was confident that the child of the future would have a clearer mind. Less sense of frustration and more self-reliance. All thanks to advances in social science, parenting, changing community attitudes towards children and socialization from a young age.
Gallery - Images of Children at the Perth Royal Show, 1949 - Some things never change!
This week is National Children's Week. The theme for 2021 is based on UNCRC Article 15 - Children have the right to choose their own friends and safely connect with others.
