Nothing wrong with IDB questionnaire
Published:Tuesday | October 11, 2022 | 12:06 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I read through the ‘controversial’ questionnaire that has caused outrage in Barbados over the last week. As a researcher and educator, I see nothing wrong with the items in question. My only concerns are that the questionnaire should not have required children to write their names, assent forms should have been issued to children, and the questionnaire was way too long – it had over 250 questions across 26 pages.
I have been following the discussion on social media and the items I see mentioned as outrageous are: 1) occupation of parents; 2) I am secure about myself in relationships; 3) I drink alcohol without parents’ approval; 4) I deliberately try to hurt or kill myself; 5) I hear sounds or voices that other people think aren’t there; 6) I wish I were of the opposite sex; 7) I think about sex a lot.
What harm exactly are the outraged citizens worried about when these children have access to the Internet? Since children are exposed to the Internet and peers, for that matter, we need to have meaningful discussions with them about themselves and identity to foster positive self-esteem and self-worth. Responses to these items could give children opportunities to express themselves and their fears, and open the door for meaningful conversations.
DEALING WITH ANXIETY AND FEAR
Just last week, a preteen committed suicide in Westmoreland. Children are dealing with anxiety and just general fears of maturation. If this is left unchecked, they can do harm to themselves. We can’t have our heads in the sand about childhood development because of fear stemming from prejudices or lack of knowledge. Adults cannot continue to perceive that the best way to keep children from thinking about things we would rather them not think about, is to not talk about it. Eleven-year-olds know about suicide and sex and yes, some of them do think about suicide and sex. It is in everybody’s interest to acknowledge and accept this fact.
Not every question about gender has a transgender agenda. I remember conducting research with children back in 2010 to garner how much they know and understand about gender and gender stereotypes. When children were asked if they would want to be the opposite gender, all the boys said no, giving reasons such as: girls wash dishes and when he grows up, he would not be able to come home from work and sit and watch TV and read the newspaper. A few girls wanted to be boys because of the unjustifiable privileges boys enjoy, e.g., being able to go outside to play whenever they want. These responses should cause more concern than the items on the questionnaire.
A. RENEE