WHO IS “THE WHOLE CHILD”? SOME COMMENTS ON NEL NODDINGS’ THEORY OFCARING. Nel Noddings sees a caring relation between teachers and studentsas fundamental to learning. She argues that schools need to consider this,and that the scope of learning is broader than is usually assumed, includ-ing not only academic instruction but also social and moral education. Shepresents her views of an agenda for education with reference to her theoryof caring, which anticipates specific qualities in the teacher–child relation-ship. Theoretical notions forming part of her concept of a caring relationinclude individual needs, mutual dependence, interaction and a relationalself. This article discusses Noddings’ view of the child, as set out in some ofher recent texts. This view is discussed in relation to certain issues ad-dressed in childhood studies, namely the marginalization of children andtheir competencies in the public space, various views of dependency andautonomy, and children as contemporary or belonging to the future.