From: Tracy L. Hubbard <tlhubbar>
Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2005 19:53:59 -0500

Thom Barthelmess wrote: "While I certainly understand and
:sympathize with concerns about the perpetuation of gender stereotypes,
:it helps me to remember that books are only half of the books + kids
:equation...I don't feel that we need to "protect" kids from exposure to
:traditional gender roles. They start out looking at things with open
:eyes. What we do need, I believe, are open-minded explorations of gender
:identification"

I agree with Thom, lets not overprotect kids. It seems to be a type of almost reverse censorship.

I can be troubled sometimes by a very "openminded" person ranting and raving against a book/idea because it may not be "PC". I really love how kids assimilate from books what is appropriate to their scheme of understanding. This summer I have been working with 3 and 4 year olds. It is interesting how gender roles are apparent at this young age. Yet, I can be just as frustrated by a a girl who is very inquisitive and needs "one on one" attention, as I am with a boy who is too "rambunctious" to pay attention to the task at hand.

I believe the point is to expose children to as many views as possible, so they can make good choices. And trust me they do. I amazed by how children key into "good" age appropriate literature, and tune out on books that may not fit as their schema as well.

Tracy

How else do you expose children to ideas Tracy Hubbard tlhubbar at uiuc.edu
Received on Sun 24 Jul 2005 07:53:59 PM CDT