Children in Spain

Spain's Background

Spain's government has transformed several times over the last century from right-center to left-center and back towards right. Through these changes in government, the country itself has experienced drastic changes in policy and ideology. In 1936, Francisco Franco took over Spain as a fascist dictator. Under Franco's regime, the church influenced the country's family policies and held the values of the family in high regard. Men and women had traditional roles in the family which were hard to overcome. This effected family policy negatively, but also strengthened family unity. Franco did not regard education as an important issue causing Spain to fall behind most of Europe. Since the fall of Franco in 1975, Spain's policies have become more beneficial to children. Spain has made efforts to modernize to the level of the rest of Europe.

Government Institutions that Help Children

There is not a lot of government support for the Spanish family. One policy that has benefited children is Act 21/87. Finally, the government realized that childcare is an important part of policy and this act ensures that it is reviewed by expert teams. This policy shows that society understood that children with family problems needed more help than was being provided. Most other government support of children comes mainly in the form of education reform. The Ministerial Order (MEC) is a body that was created because there was a need for reform in childcare and education. The MEC began to identify preschool as a place for children to learn and develop social skills. The General Law of Education, made requirements for teachers to be qualified.

Elements of Social Change

References

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California State University: Dominguez Hills. 2004. “Family/Household Patterns of Spain.” Carson, California: California State University: Dominguez Hills, Retrieved November 3, 2004 (http://www.csudh.edu/global_options/375Students-Sp96/ Spain/FAM.HOUSE. HTML).

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Llorente, María Ángeles García, and Laura Martínez-Mora. 2003. “The Process of Deinstitutionalization in Spain.” Pp. 25-48 in Children in Institutions: The Beginning of the End? The cases of Italy, Spain, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, coordinated by Miguel Cillero, Jaime Couso, and Mario Ferrari. Florence, Italy: Tipografia Giuntina.

Odina, Teresa Aguado. 1993. "Provision for Preschool Children in Spain." Pp. 93-111 in Educational Provision for our Youngest Children: European Perspectives, edited by Tricia David. London: Paul Chapman Publishing Ltd.

Naldini, Manuela. 2003. The Family in the Mediterranean Welfare States. London: Frank Cass Publishers. Valiente, Cecilia. 2002. "The Value of an Educational Emphasis: Child Care and Restructuring in Spain since 1975." Pp. 57-70 in Child Care Policies at the Crossroads: Gender and Welfare State Restructuring, edited by Sonya Michel and Rianne Mahon. New York: Routledge.