Ataturk, Republic and the Spirit of Child

ABSTRACT

Although the concept of ‘childhood’ incorporates some ambiguity with regards

to history, culture and philosophy, the word ‘kid’ always evokes curiosity, creativity,

being open to new things and independence. Children are capable of thinking

without the boundaries of conventional thinking like ‘it was always like this, it

should go on like this’. Given this fact, childhood is more than something that is

lived in one period of life and then ends and fades. The childhood of the spirit is as

important as the childhood of the biological body. A child spirit demands freedom

and independence. Therefore, childhood is a way of character and refers to chasing

new things, change without ever giving up, being capable of staying fresh, and

combining maturity with a spirit of a child. The spirit that Atatürk strived to gain for

the Republic was such a spirit of a child, which is innovative and likes to explore.

The spirit of the Republic is a mature spirit of a child that produces and has to

produce unique and innovative works in science, art and philosophy. Therefore

combination of the national sovereignty with the festival for kids as well as using

together the concept of national sovereignty with the concept of a child that

represents future of a nation by Atatürk is a sheer proof of his genius.

Key Words: Childhood, sovereignty, creativity, education, culture.