I've been trying to decide, who or what exactly has the greatest influence upon our children? Is it the parent, the schools, social environment, peers? The classic children's book Harriet The Spy, started me thinking along these lines.
The book's protagonist is a quirky eleven year old girl who pretends to be a spy and gathers information about those around her. Some of the gathering requires Harriet to be a bit of a sleuth, most of what she garthers requires her to be just plain noisy. Harriet records all her finding, whether they are factual or conjecture, in her secret notebook. Writing it down, seems to help Harriet to process and understand people and by extension the world. However, whatever is written, becomes the truth. This is problematic for me. Opinion seems to have equal footing with truth within the pages of the novel. I realize it is a children's book, yet I question what the takeaway will be? Will a young reader discern that truth and what is means to be honest is somewhat skewed within the pages of the book? Consider the statement: "Sometimes you have to lie. But to yourself you must always tell the truth." Will the young reader understand that a lie is never anything but a lie? Or rather will they reason that "Little lies that make people feel better are not bad, like thanking someone for a meal they made even if you hated it, or telling a sick person they look better when they don't, or someone with a hideous new hat that it's lovely. But to yourself you must tell the truth." I want my two year old son to understand clearly, that there are not good lies and bad lies, there are simply lies.
I guess I'm a little nervous about a book's influence upon its readers. Will the message and values put forth within the pages of a book carry more weight than the words spoken by a parent? Harriet The Spy, has a reading level of 6.2 but an intereest level for children in grades 3-5. My hope is that younger readers will recognize the character Ole Golly as the sage of the book. The lessons she teach, especially about lonliness and understanding self, are the ones I hope they remember, long after they have put the book aside. I like how Ole Golly and her words of wisdom; "You know what? You're an individual, and that makes people nervous. And it's gonna keep making people nervous for the rest of your life." This is the message I would hope children get from the book, that self awareness is important, but so are good manners and conduct. I hope the young readers understands that just because you think or feel something, doesn't mean others have to accept it as their truth.
I think Lerers presents a really interesting perspective on this subject. He introduces the concept of "bullshit" as a artistry technique, used with skill to create an unmatched persona.
ReplyDeleteI also agree Ole Golly does present the voice of reason within the story. Her influence on Harriet is powerful, as is her role in Harriet's childhood. She seems to take the place of nurse, teacher, and parent wrapped into one seemingly nanny position. This attachment to one's caretaker reminded me of the Nanny Diaries.
I think some of the complication of Harriet is what makes her such a fascinating character. She has agency that we don't find in Cassie or Laura, and sometimes she uses that agency to do really dumb stuff. I find that this technique gives more legitimacy to childhood than previous works.
ReplyDeleteGreat opening to the blog! I love questions which make a person really think or try to understand a situation. Trying to understand your situation and make the correct inference is tough, and I'm not sure there is an answer to your question clearly. Like you said,you can try and teach your son that a lie is a lie, but will that hold in school? Will it hold when your absent and his social environment is surrounded by children who lie? This raises the complex issue of how do children act when nobodies watching, or what is your child's character.
ReplyDeleteI think we have to trust kids to be able to handle books like this. Sure, Harriet's not a perfect character, and sure, Ole Golly's advice might be problematic. But kids don't take everything they read at face value -- they're tiny critics, asking questions, doubting, wondering. That's why reading is valuable; it catalyzes that process.
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