Nursery World - Make it our word

Like Lyn Shawcroft (letters, 9 December), I have always felt uncomfortable with definitions of the word 'pedagogue' found in 20th century dictionaries. However, I have been discussing this concept and I'm beginning to see things differently. Words change their meaning over the centuries, and there is no reason why we could not take the Humpty Dumpty approach - 'When I use a word it means just what I choose it to mean'.

Words change their meaning over the centuries, and there is no reason why we could not take the Humpty Dumpty approach - 'When I use a word it means just what I choose it to mean'.

The original meaning of 'pedagogue' was the title given to Greek slaves who took the children of wealthy citizens of ancient Rome to school; the 'ped'

comes from the Greek for 'child', found also in words like 'paediatrician'.

Over the centuries its meaning in English came to be the education-flavoured definition Lyn found. But in the early years and childcare field we could claim this word with a new and useful meaning, especially if we look at how it is used in some other European countries.

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