Should Reading In Schools Consist Of Sensitive Issues

Through my University degree I wrote a paper on sensitive issues within reading.

I found that talking to people really opened my eyes as the different opinions on approaching subjects such as bullying, war, and even death, were so ranging, from "of course they should be read about", to no "the child should be protected from such things".

The question I found myself raising most was, when is it appropriate to discuss or read about such issues, within our lives we all have to face these sensitive issues, and surely within the safe envirinment of being able to read it as someone from the outside looking in at a character facing the problem or sensitive issue, it allows the child reaidng about it to see a way of dealing with the issue themselves should they ever come to face it.

Overall the study really opened my eyes to just how many sensitive issues are covered in literature, for example within every Jaqueline Wilson book, there is detail on how a character might cover with the likes of death, abuse, homelessness,and bullying.

These books all allow the child to see a character rather than themselves and consider a method of coping in some form of ordeal.

"By refusing to engage with potentially problematic practices are we, as educators protecting students from unnecessary exposure... or are we missing an opportunity to confront important personal, social and cultural issues?" (Burgess 2003)

This extract shows that it is the belief that through not being afraid and teaching sensitive issues, it allows for the preparation and awareness amongst children to be able to organize themselves, their thoughts and beliefs as to how they themselves would tackle a sensitive issue. There are many arguments that have arisen, some people have shown they feel children should stay protected and their innocence maintained until necessary for them to have to learn about sensitive issues. However that also raises further questions of when is it appropriate to introduce specific sensitive issues to children. Surely is we do not prepare them in their awareness of a situation, they cannot be prepared in the event that it does happen to them i.e. experiencing death or facing war.

Nevertheless, teachers and parents ultimatly have the ability and capability of knowing and understanding what their child is able to cope with, there is almost a necessity for a balance in what we show and do not show to the children in the form of partially protecting them, whilst showing them the truth through the form of fiction and reading about it as a third person. This shows the overall attitude to the reading of sensitive issues to be mostly positive as it is a highly beneficial method for teachers in schools and parents to allow their child to tackle sensitive issues.