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I tend to start most of my articles contesting the debate in hand and this one is no different. I think my primary reason for answering on the NO side is that I do not really understand what 'adult subjects' might be. Everyone's idea of an 'adult subject' is of course different. If we are discussing pornography books with explicit pictures then ok, that's a bit too far, but if we are discussing novels with themes that are controversial - racism, homosexuality, sexism and similar political issues - then my answer is most definitely NO. The point is that what I deem as appropriate another person may deem as inappropriate. Therefore the schools will never be able to satisfy all parents.

I have written other related article debates in which my conclusion is nearly always the same; discussion over censorship. Children should have the right to choose for themselves what they read. If the subject is complicated or complex then adults or teachers should discuss it with them. For example, I read George Orwell's Animal Farm at school for my GCSEs (aged 15-16). I would deem this material as dealing with adult issues i.e. political revolution, communism, fascism etc. Does this mean I should have read it when I was 18. Of course not, I learnt a great deal from reading the book at that age. In fact I would encourage my own children (when I have some) to read Animal Farm when they are even younger, maybe even ten. I look forward to discussing the issues with them and debating what we think about them.

The whole point of schooling children is to educate. Educating happens through discussion, debate, understanding, critiquing etc. There is no point in trying to protect a child from the big bad world of adults' because one day these children will be adults. The more they understand the issues being contested in the books they read, the more the will be able to confront the world of adulthood when they reach it.

Another belief of mine is that children should grow up forming their own opinions. As a parent I would be fully ready to admit that my beliefs are principles are not universal. In my own childhood my sister and I attended church with my mum. Despite going to church every week my parents gave us the room to form our own decisions and due to this I made my own choice that I don't believe in God. Being honest I think that schools do not introduce adult subjects' early enough. Introducing complex situations to young children (in a manner appropriate to their age

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