Parents of sixth-graders protested yesterday after it was discovered that the word "shit" was found in the reading book, one of which was translated from German.
Unlike parents who believe that mentioning the word is not in accordance with the school curriculum and good upbringing, Nađa Durković, the editor for mother tongue and literature at the Department of Textbooks, believes that it can be interpreted as author's freedom.
Parents whose names are known to the editorial office of "Vijesti" and believe that such words should be censored or replaced by something more suitable for eleven-year-olds.
The story "I just want to know why everything is so unfair" is an excerpt from the novel "Tresnuču vas! Emma defended herself", by Elizabeta Celer. The story for the textbook was translated by Piroška Matić.
The disputed passage from the novel by Elizabeta Celer, represented in the Reading Book for the 6th grade of elementary school
"Great literature is by its very nature subversive. "Make-up" literature for children, which was represented until now, has long been outgrown in European schools, and we follow new trends," Durković said.
The story describes the dilemmas and problems of the student Emma, who is 12 years old, "writes poems, is an excellent student, likes to read, especially lexicons, likes to ask impossible questions, but also to contradict religious teachers".
The disputed part of the story begins with a harmless children's game in the classroom at the moment the teachers arrive in the class.
"Eva is in another part of the classroom. She is sitting on the table and punches Franz in the leg purely for fun. He elbows Filip next to him. Filip hits him back. Eva hits Ogut and laughs. Just like that. She didn't even notice that Mrs. Wizigman was in the classroom .
She, however, approaches Eva and shouts at her: 'Enough! Are you pushing on others again?!
It's always my fault,' shouted Eva. 'Shit. Eva hit the floor with her foot'".
Pointing out that Celer is "an important European author and bestseller", Durković said that children hear that word every day.
"Great literature is by its very nature subversive. "Make-up" literature for children, which was represented until now, has long been outgrown in European schools, and we follow new trends," said Durković.
Respecting the original text and the authors of novels and textbooks, parents believe that the translation, if not censored, should at least be replaced by a more appropriate expression.
"We are afraid that reading books with street slang would educate children in a new way, and parents would get street children. We believe that street jargon should not be affirmed at the expense of literary language.
The vernacular is rich in localisms and archaisms and that richness of the language should be preserved, but we must be careful because the mix with street slang looks scary. I really expect a little more seriousness from the school curriculum.
Until now, good behavior and expression have been brought out of the house, however, how can we maintain it when our girls are taught differently", one of the parents believes.
Novović: Rethink artistic freedoms intended for children
Regardless of the fact that children outside of school use slang in everyday communication, pedagogue Radoje Novović believes that the artistic freedoms intended for children under the age of 11 should be reconsidered.
"Children use such words in slang and it is considered 'in' behavior at their age, but if such vocabulary is used in textbooks and educational programs, it can be a ticket to free behavior in the later life of young people.
The school must be an absolute example in all segments of education, emotional, social, educational," Novović told "Vijesta".
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