Taboo

While reading chapter seven, I noticed a topic which is great to discuss. "Controversial and Sensitive Issues" talking about taboo topics could be hard for children to understand. For example, Death, Divorce, Moral Choices, Mental, Physical and Behavioral Challenges, Abuse, Homelessness and Poverty. An author my the name of Nordstrom's were among the first to address these types of topics such as racial tension. I understand that it's hard to address these types of topics yet children understand more then we think they do. When a family member dies or a divorce occurs some children don't know how to deal with these situations because they have never been prepared for these types of situations. Death happens all the time yet why don't we educate ourselves and our students about these topics. They may be hard to talk about but when something does happen they will be a little more prepared and knowledgeable regarding what happened and why. The book "The Joy of Children's Literature" stated that some adults argue that children should no be exposed to what they consider the inappropriate issues or offensive language that appears in some works of realistic fiction for children." As a mother I think that its hard to discuss these issues and we want to shield our children from these bad things, yet I think we should prepare our children of reality and that its better as a parent or teacher to address these important issues rather then never talking about it and something bad happens and our children wonder how their perfect live could change so bad. The best why to teach or children of these taboo topics is through literature. Simple stories such as  I Remember Miss Perry by Pat Brisson or Charlotte's Web ,or Where the Wild Things Are. These are all great stories to help students understand these issues at their level.





 While researching this topic I found a great site that felt as I did, so I decided to share with you. http://english.illinoisstate.edu/rlbroad/teaching/studentpubs/OneWishEnglish/levernier.pdf
http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200809/Crawford.pdf