Competing Representations of Boy Soldiers in WWI Children's Literature

The ‘making of a soldier’: Masculinity and soldierhood as portrayed in the New Zealand School Journal, 1907–1925

“…Children’s literature and curriculum materials published before, during and after the Great War were instrumental in constructing children’s attitudes about war both overtly and subtly (Collins, 2012; Galway, 2012). Children’s literature often communicated ‘what the war is, what it is like, what it means, and what its consequences are’ (Meek, 2001: xv).…”

“…Children’s reading materials played an integral role in the manipulation of New Zealand children, particularly boys, into active participants of the war – in particular, the ‘making of a soldier’ and the hegemonic masculine ideals associated with this (Collins, 2012; Galway, 2012; Meek, 2001; Paris, 2004).…”

“…The notion of childhood changed as the war dawned on the Empire (Galway, 2012). Children were no longer passive and naïve, but they were instead active citizens with a specific purpose – to fulfil their duty to New Zealand and the larger Empire.…”

“…Galway (2012) suggests that during times of need, such as war, children were portrayed as ‘ready and willing to serve their nation’ (Galway, 2012: 298, Reynolds, 2009). This is particularly evident in the School Journal , in the ‘Empire Messages’ which call out for children to be ready and able to help out, before and during the war years.…”

“…This is particularly evident in the School Journal , in the ‘Empire Messages’ which call out for children to be ready and able to help out, before and during the war years. This patriotic form of open propaganda presents the idea that the events taking place can empower children (Galway, 2012).…”