The differing views on child rearing expressed by Locke and Rousseau highlight the debate on education through direct instruction versus self-discovery.
Explanation:
Locke defended the idea that the child is like a tabula rasa - a blank slate. That means the child learns whatever he/she is taught by means of direct instruction. On the other hand, Rousseau defended the idea that a child would learn through self-discovery, through spontaneous interactions with the world and others. To Rousseau, children should be given as much freedom to explore as possible.
