John Locke, the English philosopher and physician who is commonly referred to as the Father of Liberalism, wrote parenting guidelines that at the time werent popular, but foreshadowed many of the positive discipline methods we see today. Discipline at home in the 1930s was viewed purely in the form of punishment for bad behavior, according to Ted Johnson in his thesis on child-rearing practices up to the 1950s. As Puritans rose against the English church, the subjugation of children was formalized, dissuading them against challenging or rebelling against authority in the slightest. . Richard Stockton is a freelance science and technology writer from Sacramento, California. Heres Augustus Hare, in 1896, remembering a punishment he was subjected to by a maiden aunt when he was around five years old: The most delicious puddings were talked of, -dilated on- until I became, not greedy, but exceedingly curious about them. Children had to say "please" and "thank you," and if they didnt use these words correctly, they would be informed by adults that they were being rude. If you gave a child a clip round the ear nowadays, they'd probably sue you and put you up in front of the European Equal Rights Committee or something similar! Childhood Memories of growing up in the 1950s and 1960s. Cunha is also completing her master's degree in mass communication. The Children Act 2004, which pushes forward the main proposals of the green paper - electronic children's files; children's directors; and a children's commissioner - is passed by parliament. In most contexts, this intrinsic helplessness motivates the protective instincts even of adults who arent related to the child.