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Imaging the future: theatre and change within the child protection system
Author(s) -
Spratt,
~ Houston,
Magill
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
child and family social work
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-2206
pISSN - 1356-7500
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2206.2000.00152.x
Subject(s) - child protection , relevance (law) , social work , action (physics) , face (sociological concept) , work (physics) , pedagogy , social change , child care , psychology , sociology , public relations , nursing , political science , medicine , social science , mechanical engineering , physics , quantum mechanics , law , engineering
The use of social pedagogy as a paradigm for critically appraising developments within child and family social work has been largely neglected. This paper outlines the work of Augusto Boal and his adoption of social pedagogy as a method for empowering oppres‐sed social groups in Brazil. It is argued that Boal’s approach can be adapted by using action research techniques to analyse and effect change in situations where child care professionals face daily contradictions in their attempts to both protect children and support families. To demonstrate its relevance to child care practice, a description is provided of how the approach was used with two groups of social work students – one undertaking qualifying training, the other post‐qualifying training. The results of this application suggest a new theoretical framework for practice which aims to establish communicative consensus around the needs of children and a mutual appreciation of roles and responsibilities.