Teaching Children to Care: Their Views of War in Bosnia

Abstract

36 students in Grades 5 and 6 were exposed to moralistic teaching about the rights of children during war and the meaning of International Humanitarian Law. They were also given guided tours of 44 color drawings by children in Bosnia which were on display for 12 school days. Three weeks later the children were asked to write to a pen-pal in Bosnia and answer two general inquiries about the project for a total of 40 minutes of writing. Analysis of their written responses indicated the absence of knowledge about the central concepts of the rights of children and the purpose of International Humanitarian Law. There was ample evidence that empathic responses were developed in relation to people suffering in Bosnia, although a minority were apparently frightened and retreated into a self-reassurance of their own safety.