Deciding what kids can read

[Tyler Hewitt]

Barb posted an interesting piece about children and
reading appropriate books that contined the following:

"As for deciding what kids can and cannot read, I have
to say that I disagree very, very strongly with
this...

...For the most part, kids don't read things for which
they're not 
ready. "


I agree with you completely on this. I don't have
kids, but if I did, they would be encouraged to read
anything they chose.

When I was growing up, I was allowed to read whatever
I wanted. I was NEVER prevented from reading anything,
no matter what the subject matter or reading/content
level. I read mostly kids books, but I was an avid
reader and basically read anything I could get my
hands on. 

I handeled everything I read well, even things that
were obviously advanced for my age. I read the book
'Sybil', about the woman who was abused as a child and
developed multiple personality syndrome, when I was in
third grade (around age 8 or 9 for you Brits). I
remember being confused by descriptions of
menstruation, as I had no idea what that was. The rest
of it I understood fine, and even though that book has
some really disturbing scenes, I came through
untraumatized. 

I credit my lifelong love of reading and a fairly
healthy intellectual curiosity with my being able to
read whatever I wanted (and watch whatever I wanted-tv
was completely uncensored for me as a kid). I sure as
hell didn't get it from the lackluster education I
recieved in my hometown's public school system (I
argued with my school librarian to let me check out
books reserved for 6th graders when in the 4th grade.
She was unwilling to let me until my mother intervened
on my behalf. I still don't know what was so advanced
in the O. Henry and Louisa May Alcott books I checked
out of the 6th grade section). At home I was able to
explore whatever caught my fancy, and as a result was
occasionally challenged intellectualy, something I
almost never got at school. 

I feel it best to let kids read whatever they want,
and provide them with ample opportunity to do so. As
long as you are willing to discuss what they are
reading, they will be fine. 
The argument that kids need to be protected from
certain ideas is ridiculous and does more harm than
good. Children need to be exposed to MORE ideas, not
less. Any beliefs worth keeping will withstand being
compared to other concepts which might contradict
them. I feel sorry for people whose belief system is
so fragile that it seemingly can't hold up to a little
scrutiny.

Tyler

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