Eva Gullov

Mange born og unge uden for Danmarks store uddannelsesbyer bliver i lobet af deres opvAekst gradvist overbevist om nodvendigheden af at forlade deres hjemegn. De rejser og forstAerker dermed den fraflytningstendens, som mange lokalsamfund i provinsen er ramt af.

This original ethnographic study looks at how children are ‘civilised’ within child institutions, such as schools, day care centres and families, under the auspices of the welfare state. As part of a general discussion on civilising projects and the role of state institutions, the authors focus on Denmark, a country characterised by the extent of time children use in public institutions from an early age. They look at the extraordinary amount of attention and effort put into the process of upbringing by the state, as well as the widespread co-operation in this by parents across the social spectrum. Taking as its point of departure the sociologist Norbert Elias’ concept of civilising, Children of the Welfare State explores the ideals of civilised conduct expressed through institutional upbringing and examine how children of different age, gender, ethnicity and social backgrounds experience and react to these norms and efforts. The analysis demonstrates that welfare state institutions, though characterised by a strong egalitarian ideal, create distinctions between social groups, teach children about moral hierarchies in society and prompts them to identify as more or less civilised citizens of the state.

This original ethnographic study looks at how children are ‘civilised’ within child institutions, such as schools, day care centres and families, under the auspices of the welfare state. As part of a general discussion on civilising projects and the role of state institutions, the authors focus on Denmark, a country characterised by the extent of time children use in public institutions from an early age. They look at the extraordinary amount of attention and effort put into the process of upbringing by the state, as well as the widespread co-operation in this by parents across the social spectrum. Taking as its point of departure the sociologist Norbert Elias’ concept of civilising, Children of the Welfare State explores the ideals of civilised conduct expressed through institutional upbringing and examine how children of different age, gender, ethnicity and social backgrounds experience and react to these norms and efforts. The analysis demonstrates that welfare state institutions, though characterised by a strong egalitarian ideal, create distinctions between social groups, teach children about moral hierarchies in society and prompts them to identify as more or less civilised citizens of the state.

I et velfAerdssamfund som det Danishske er borneopdragelse ikke blot forAeldrenes opgave, men et anliggende for bade samfund og stat. Den store opmAerksomhed pa borns trivsel og opforsel fra bade medier og politikere fortAeller om en udtalt bevagenhed og statslig prioritering. Denne samfundsinvolvering gor det vigtigt at se nAermere pa borneinstitutionerne.For hvad er det for mennesker og medborgere, man soger at opdrage bornene til at blive? Hvad er det for vAerdier for opforsel og omgang, der arbejdes med? - og stemmer de overens med den opdragelsespraksis, der foregar i familier? Hvilke interesser er institutionaliseringen af borneopdragelsen udtryk for, og hvilke konsekvenser har den for bornene og for samfundet?Med afsAet i sociologen Norbert Elias civiliseringsbegreb forsoger denne bog at besvare disse sporgsmal. Pa baggrund af etnografiske feltarbejder ibornehaver, folkeskoler og familier, samt interviews med 4-16 arige born, deres forAeldre, pAedagoger og lAerere prAesenterer bogen en rAekke analyser af institutionsliv og opdragelse. Formalet er at fa indsigt i de idealer og distinktioner, der ligger i den institutionelle organisering af borns liv i det Danishske velfAerdssamfund.