Innocence

One of the images of the child that prevailed since the end of the 18th century was that of children's innocence. Rousseau imagined the child as innocent, pure, and close to nature, however, threatened by the evils of civilization. The innocent status of children participated in maintaining them in a not-yet space, under the gaze and the directives of the adult. In progressive arts education practices, the innocent children's nature was seen in need of protection, as this was the child who was naturally spontaneous and free from rules. Looking to the different constructions of children as innocent, one can observe that these are connected to moral, gender, racial, and class issues. The innocent child created its 'Others': the racialized child, the poor child, the deviant child, the liar child, etc.