Certain aspects concerning the Hindu parent-child relationship in a changing society
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Date
1992
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Abstract
The objectives of the study were:
- to elaborate on and elucidate the changes in society which have impeded the quality of the Hindu parent's accompaniment of his child.
- to describe the life - world of the Hindu child as it reveals itself in his relations with himself, others, things/ideas and God.
- in the light of the findings from the literature study, to establish certain guidelines according to which accountable support can be instituted to meet the needs of Hindu parents and their children.
As an introduction a psychopedagogical perspective on parental accompaniment of their children was given, where it was stressed that the success of the child's education depended on the quality of the parent - child relationship. Parental guidance and support are also crucial in meeting the objectives of education, provided the child's basic physiological and psychological needs are met. The study found that traditional Hindu lifestyles were fast disappearing within a changing society and this had severe consequences for the upbringing of the Hindu child.
The pressures of urbanization and industrialization, and the need for employment, forced Hindu families to break away from their traditional extended family systems and move towards nuclear family units. Unlike in the earlier situation, where all members of the extended family assumed responsibility for the upbringing of the children, this is now the sole responsibility of the parents themselves. This has devastating consequences for the child since, generally, both Hindu parents are being forced to seek employment - due to the high cost of living - and consequently the time spent in the accompaniment of their child is considerably reduced. Conditions for pedagogic neglect are therefore created. In addition to this the children come under the strong influence of Western culture and lifestyles, which cause them to become somewhat estranged from their own culture and way of life. The lack of proper parental supervision and control in the urban environment, makes the child also easily Influenced by factors within the environment which result in a wide range of behavioural problems. This affects the relationship between the parent and child, and also has a bearing on his education. Parents do not have the skills and training to cope with the situation or offer assistance to their children, and they are desperately in need of outside help. In the light of the findings of this research the following was recommended:
- Hindu authority figures at schools.
- A multi-cultural school education policy.
- Hindu parents forum at schools.
- Further research.
Description
Dissertation submitted in Fulfillment of the requirements
for Degree Magister Educationis in the Department of
Educational Psychology of the Faculty of Education at the
University Of Zululand, 1992.
Keywords
Parent and child., Parent and child relationship, Hindu child, Parental guidance and support