It seems to me that along with the constructed notion of ‘the child’ comes a legitimization of a form of censorship in the guise of protecting the innocent. One of the ways this censorship plays out is in the often celebrated development of children’s libraries and collections. Books deemed suitable for particular age ranges are separated and isolated from other like items in opposition to library subject classification which intends to group like subjects together.
The effect of this separation can be perceived as two-fold when it comes to censorship. Children are physically directed away from other materials in the library and their selection is limited by what is placed in the children’s collection. Adults are similarly affected when browsing because certain materials have been segregated to the children’s department, not allowing adult patrons to access them as easily.
The intent of this action (segregation of materials) has been perhaps, or at least in part, to elevate the vulnerable position of ‘the child’ in remedy to past exploitation by giving them their own space. However, the negative consequence of this separation is the reinforcing of attitudes about children and adults: that children are somehow a different species requiring special treatment. There is a visible discomfort amongst adults not in regular contact with children who are suddenly faced with children. It is difficult to believe that this reaction is not influenced by the segregation of children in society.
The patterns of everyday living in our society further exacerbate the problem: adults and children spend regular portions of their days in separate buildings (children in schools with some adults to supervise them, while the bulk of adults are working in buildings with other adults); libraries have separate spaces for adults and children, as do certain restaurants, hospitals, public parks, etc.; and, as already mentioned, libraries create special collections for each group.
Devil's Advocate P.O.V.: The supposed 'elevation' of 'the child' in our culture is not the evolved sentiment we have mistaken it for. It is a false over-compensation perhaps based on residual guilt for past wrongs to children. And the effect is censorship. When spaces are provided for children, this means that adults are not welcome in them, and vice-versa.
Segregation of blacks and whites has come to be understood as unethical though at one time it was thought to be ethical by some. Is what is ethical changeable? Or is it an example of improved understanding that we no longer legislate segregation? Is it then only a matter of time before we recognize that the segregation of children is also unethical?
The effect of this separation can be perceived as two-fold when it comes to censorship. Children are physically directed away from other materials in the library and their selection is limited by what is placed in the children’s collection. Adults are similarly affected when browsing because certain materials have been segregated to the children’s department, not allowing adult patrons to access them as easily.
The intent of this action (segregation of materials) has been perhaps, or at least in part, to elevate the vulnerable position of ‘the child’ in remedy to past exploitation by giving them their own space. However, the negative consequence of this separation is the reinforcing of attitudes about children and adults: that children are somehow a different species requiring special treatment. There is a visible discomfort amongst adults not in regular contact with children who are suddenly faced with children. It is difficult to believe that this reaction is not influenced by the segregation of children in society.
The patterns of everyday living in our society further exacerbate the problem: adults and children spend regular portions of their days in separate buildings (children in schools with some adults to supervise them, while the bulk of adults are working in buildings with other adults); libraries have separate spaces for adults and children, as do certain restaurants, hospitals, public parks, etc.; and, as already mentioned, libraries create special collections for each group.
Devil's Advocate P.O.V.: The supposed 'elevation' of 'the child' in our culture is not the evolved sentiment we have mistaken it for. It is a false over-compensation perhaps based on residual guilt for past wrongs to children. And the effect is censorship. When spaces are provided for children, this means that adults are not welcome in them, and vice-versa.
Segregation of blacks and whites has come to be understood as unethical though at one time it was thought to be ethical by some. Is what is ethical changeable? Or is it an example of improved understanding that we no longer legislate segregation? Is it then only a matter of time before we recognize that the segregation of children is also unethical?
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