Issues In Children s Literature

By: Sandy Cho Hui San (P2P)

 Lack of awareness Eg: I guess because I am European-American, I have never had to think about this problem before. Unable to find themselves or their lives reflected in classroom literature Eg: It was very hard to relate to the books that we had to read Sometimes it would feel like I was out of place.

 Selection of books Eg: Students are often asked to make connections while reading. Unless books are carefully selected, we may be asking the impossible of some students. Racism Eg: it is the key to abolish racism ignorance that one has of others.

 Lack of high quality literature works - over emphasis on a certain ethnic. Good literature is for everyone Eg: I don t think that books should be secularised by whether they are for black children or white children. Educators - Educators view all people though a colour-blind lens. (pg5) - Teachers are struggle along with others to unlearn racism.

- Teachers do see the important of using multicultural literature in the classroom, but may need an outside stimulus to become aware of the issue. - Unintentional discrimination is practiced by well-meaning teachers in schools where there is lack of talk about differences, particularly about race.