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Re: How Much Do We Tell the Children
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From: Megan Schliesman <schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu>
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 07:48:53 -0600
I tried sending the post below on Saturday but don't think it went through (at least I don't see it). So I'm reposting it (apologies if this is duplication). Perhaps it's even more applicable in light of Marc Aronson's post from a writer's perspective. Megan
It turns out this discussion is dovetailing with an online discussion on in tellectual freedom issues I've been having the past few days with graduate students studying to become certified library media specialists.
One of the questions posted related to the idea of "protecting children." Part of what I wrote in response was:
"I don’t think selection . . . should ever be approached with the mindset of protecting children or not crossing some line. But that doesn’t mean individual books or other materials won’t g ive one or more of us pause (and it no doubt will be different books for di fferent individuals). Selection requires looking beyond our own tastes and opinions, and even being willing to challenge our personal comfo rt zones and acknowledge that even if we aren’t ready for something to be in the libra ry, the readers we serve may be."
And writing that affirmed for me once again how grateful I am that there ar e such talented authors and illustrators out there willing to write honestl y about their subject matter (whether they are doing so in fiction or non-f iction). Some of them create books that may push at our individual comfor t zones as adults who evaluate books for youth or who are charged with sele cting books to put in children's and teen's hands; and some of them push at the boundaries of what we might expect to find in a book for children or t eens. But I appreciate book creators who approach their young audiences wi th such respect, offering them what they may want and need whether we are r eady for it or not.
That doesn't mean I always appreciate the result (though it's not always be cause of content). And it still means I sometimes struggle with whether a particular book is one I can recommend because of how a particular topic is presented or handled. The fact that it's there to begin with is usually no t the issue. .
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison 600 N. Park Street, Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706
608/262-9503 schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Mon 21 Nov 2011 07:48:53 AM CST
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 07:48:53 -0600
I tried sending the post below on Saturday but don't think it went through (at least I don't see it). So I'm reposting it (apologies if this is duplication). Perhaps it's even more applicable in light of Marc Aronson's post from a writer's perspective. Megan
It turns out this discussion is dovetailing with an online discussion on in tellectual freedom issues I've been having the past few days with graduate students studying to become certified library media specialists.
One of the questions posted related to the idea of "protecting children." Part of what I wrote in response was:
"I don’t think selection . . . should ever be approached with the mindset of protecting children or not crossing some line. But that doesn’t mean individual books or other materials won’t g ive one or more of us pause (and it no doubt will be different books for di fferent individuals). Selection requires looking beyond our own tastes and opinions, and even being willing to challenge our personal comfo rt zones and acknowledge that even if we aren’t ready for something to be in the libra ry, the readers we serve may be."
And writing that affirmed for me once again how grateful I am that there ar e such talented authors and illustrators out there willing to write honestl y about their subject matter (whether they are doing so in fiction or non-f iction). Some of them create books that may push at our individual comfor t zones as adults who evaluate books for youth or who are charged with sele cting books to put in children's and teen's hands; and some of them push at the boundaries of what we might expect to find in a book for children or t eens. But I appreciate book creators who approach their young audiences wi th such respect, offering them what they may want and need whether we are r eady for it or not.
That doesn't mean I always appreciate the result (though it's not always be cause of content). And it still means I sometimes struggle with whether a particular book is one I can recommend because of how a particular topic is presented or handled. The fact that it's there to begin with is usually no t the issue. .
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison 600 N. Park Street, Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706
608/262-9503 schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Mon 21 Nov 2011 07:48:53 AM CST
