A Child in Times of Need and in Hope. Overcoming the Distress of War, Epidemics, and Social, Psychological, and Physical Handicaps in Children and Youths

Distress, poverty, crisis (not only the current energy crisis), war, epidemics, but also aid, solidarity, hope, and support – these concepts have dominated the broader socio-political, cultural, historical, and pedagogical discourse of the last two years. The crises arising from the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine have swiftly and radically tested our confidence in the success and stability of European integration, in our ability to listen to one another and to recognize and overcome our many significant economic, cultural, and historical differences. Almost overnight, we have been shown just how fragile stability and peace are, how vulnerable democracy is, and how important it is in the twenty-first century to protect and promote values such as openness, humanity, compassion, and a sense of belonging. A Child in Times of Need and in Hope – such is the theme of a joint conference of the National Pedagogical Museum and Library of J. A. Comenius in Prague, Faculty of Arts – Charles University Prague, the Institute of History of the Czech Academy of Sciences, and the University of Zurich and the University of Dresden employing historical reflection and contemporary pedagogical discussion to explore the complexity of coping with the menace of war, with sociocultural challenges, and with the physical, psychological, and social handicaps impacting the upbringing and education of children. The conference will take place at the National Pedagogical Museum and Library of J. A. Comenius in Prague from 19 to 20 June 2023.

Programme

The conference asks what educational, legislative, and institutional means and actors (individuals and groups, i.e. educators, teachers, social educators, doctors, psychologists, parents, churches, national and professional associations, and civic groups and institutions of the modern state) have used to read, respond to, and confront the hardships of war, illness, and epidemics as well as the impact of social, economic, cultural, and environmental crises and migration processes that threaten the psychological, physical, social, and moral health of children and youths and society as a whole. The conference aims to highlight the ideological, religious, political, and cultural influences that have determined discourse and efforts to safeguard the physical and mental health of the child and provide childcare regardless of whether they have been based on scientific, religious, political, or ideological grounds and have viewed the matter in terms of the development of special educational institutions and the advancement of inclusive pedagogical interests.

If successfully assessed by reviewers, studies based on the oral presentations will be published after successful peer review in the scientific journal Historia scholastica (databased in SCOPUS).