Introduction
The issues of authenticity are especially important in such diverse countries as the United States. Multiculturalism is one of the priorities of the US educational system. Representatives of different cultures may have different views on some matters, but people should be able to understand each other to contribute to the development of society.
Clearly, it is better to help people learn more about other cultures and understand each other, and this process should start in their childhood. Thus, children’s books often explore these issues, and children benefit from reading those stories greatly. At the same time, it is necessary to admit that there are some pros and cons in the use of authenticity issues in books for children, especially when it comes to class discussions.
Pros of the Debate
As has been mentioned above, children’s books that consider authenticity issues help children fit into society better. It is clear that an effective children’s book exploring authenticity issues is the one that makes “readers from the culture” to know that “it is true” and “readers from another culture will feel that it is true… And learn something of value” (Howard, and. in Short and Fox 5).
Young readers, as well as young adults, learn more about other people’s perspectives. Importantly, they may discuss these perspectives with their peers, actually, coming from this or that culture. This is a valuable experience for students of all ages. Reading stories about different people and discussing them enables students to understand how to live in the US diverse society.
Cons of the Debate
At the same time, there is a negative side to the exploration of authenticity issues in children’s books. In the first place, this is associated with writing such stories for children. Many authors note that their authorial creativity is limited by educators’ (and many other people’s) remarks concerning responsibility (Short and Fox 12).
There are also concerns that only authors of color should be involved, as white authors have already added certain prejudice and contributed to the development of bias as well as stereotypes. Nonetheless, these issues may be solved by giving more freedom to writers. Of course, only the most valuable books should be used in class, but it does not mean that the author should only write to fit into a certain system. Many perspectives should be available.
Apart from that, discussion of issues explored in children’s books focusing on authenticity may lead to certain misunderstandings or conflicts in class. Children may feel hurt, or some of them may mock at others. Clearly, these situations can be avoided if the book is chosen wisely, and the discussion of the book is guided by an experienced educator.
More so, it has been acknowledged that “negative intercultural experiences can also play an important role in heightening awareness of our prejudice” (Nikola-Lisa, and. in Short and Fox 9). In other words, children may understand that a lot of prejudice is ungrounded.
Conclusion
On balance, it is possible to note that children’s books exploring authenticity issues are extremely important for the US society and its educational system. These books should be discussed during classes so that students could learn more about other cultures, break down prejudice, and understand each other better. Of course, there could be some challenges in this process. However, educators may help students benefit from reading such books.
Works Cited
Short, Kathy G., and Dana L. Fox. “The Complexity of Cultural Authenticity in Children’s Literature: Why the Debates Really Matter.” Stories Matter: The Complexity of Cultural Authenticity in Children’s Literature. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English, 2003. 3-23. Print.