Task 2 - Critical Literacy

At a young age children have the adorable, humorous and often naive habit of trusting everything. As we grow older we think we become more sceptical, critical and negative. This although saddening, is essential to survive in our society.

Everyday throughout our daily routines we are being critical of different literacies. We might not believe all that we read in newspapers and magazines through experience and knowledge of influences affecting what the writers choose to write or draw. While reading a magazine we are persuaded that if we buy this shampoo our hair will automatically be shiny after three washes, or if we eat half a grapefruit before every meal we will loose a stone in a week. We use our previous experience and knowledge to determine how much we believe and therefore what shampoo to buy.

We think that as educators of a future generation we need to provide our pupils with the same skills. We think we need to craft children who don't simply view literacies negatively or sceptically but in a questioning way. So that they become individuals in control of their future, rather than sheep following the masses.

Marie, Lucy and Jo
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