Dreadful things should not be known to young people until they are old enough to face them with a certain poise. This moment will come sooner with some children than with others : those who are imaginative or timid must be sheltered longer than those who are stolid or endowed with natural courage. A mental habit of fearlessness due to expectation of kindness should be firmly established before the child is made to face the existence of unkindness.
Source: Bertrand Russell:
More info.： https://russell-j.com/beginner/OE11-130.HTM
* a brief comment:
Even after becoming senior students in middle school, it is not good to remain ignorant of the fact that there are many people engaged in wrongdoing and that a considerable number of people suffer because of them. That being said, it is also not advisable to expose children to the harsh realities of the world from too young an age. Fortunately or unfortunately, in the modern era, mass media has developed to the point where an overwhelming amount of information about various evils is disseminated daily.
When it comes to television, there certainly are programs that are unbearable to watch. However, if they are excessively inappropriate, the broadcasting station risks having its license revoked. As a result, most programs remain within the bounds of being merely "trivial." In contrast, social media contains far worse content, and there are also dark websites that the general public cannot access. In Australia, where a series of child deaths linked to social media occurred, a law was passed in December 2024 prohibiting children under 16 from using social media.
Legal regulations have their limits, and excessive regulation is also undesirable. This is why media literacy education becomes crucial. In countries like Canada, media literacy education is actively promoted. However, in Japan, aside from some exceptional schools, it is regrettably insufficient. Furthermore, literacy education related to politics is also lacking. Any form of education that could foster criticism of the ruling party (such as the Liberal Democratic Party) or is perceived as "dangerous" to the ruling class is labeled as "biased education," ultimately leading to a half-hearted approach.
When will Japanese schools finally allow free discussions on political matters?
* Amazon Gift Card
