We asked our readers to weigh in and give their opinion on whether it was appropriate for the poem 'Why am I Black?' by Runett Nia Ebo to be taught and recited by eight-year-olds at East End Primary as part of Black History Month.

Here are some of the responses we received against the poem being taught in a primary school.

Larry Burchall wrote: "Should this be poem be taught to eight year-olds? Absolutely not.

"Given those forty-three lines of words, any eight year-old — or class of eight-year-olds — will simply memorise and then regurgitate a series of word sounds in a rhythm that an astute adult listener might then translate into the poem.

"I've been dealing with eight year-olds for over twenty years. I cannot name one eight year-old from the past, or one from today, who might have understood the poem and who would be able to explain it. In fact, today, most would have difficulty reading it. Many of today's eight year-olds would need help in 'sounding out' some of the words.

"In its use of language, its imagery, its syntax and sequence, that poem is far too difficult and much too complex, for any eight year-old child.

"Which leaves me wondering? What professional teaching standard allowed work of that kind to be given to students who are clearly too young and whose language skills are still in the infancy of development? What supervisory standard was there that allowed the matter to go so far as to be on the verge of actually being presented at a School Assembly? What standard is there? What standard was there?

"And all that is merely the beginning.

"That American poem speaks to an American dilemma. Black Bermudians do not face that dilemma — unless they specifically create personal mindsets that makes them think of themselves as a minority person, and thus a 'victim' in the same sense that a black American, even with Obama running for President, is still a 'minority' person; and will be a minority person even in 2058.

"Why was a self-image out of black minority America cherry-picked for use by children living in Bermuda's black majority society? Why was an eternal black American problem dumped onto the narrow shoulders of a Bermudian child? Why not present a poem written by any of the scores of excellent poets from the Caribbean — most of whom are black and ALL of whom live in black majority societies — just like Bermuda? Is there something wrong with poetry that comes out of Africa and that speaks of past or current or future things? Are there no Bermudian poets — none at all?

"In this event and its reportage, I see a melt-down of professional standards as the teacher and her supervisor and the school administration made and were about to sustain a large error.

"I also see clear evidence of a clear lack of a clear national standard as Education Ministry officials and CURE people and 'Big Conversation' people all suddenly run and hide and seem unable to answer forthrightly.

"The whole episode is a clear display of ignorance, incompetence, stupidity. The episode has also allowed the various oversight Administrations to demonstrate that they actually do not oversee. Taken all together it shows a shambles. A complete shambles.

"However, I do think that the poem would be appropriate for use in a discussion group with S4's who are studying 'language arts'. Trouble is, like our eight year-olds, our S4's probably can't read and understand it either."

Edward Rance wrote: "Age appropriateness aside, we should never shy away from confronting a work of literature, especially those that prompt disagreement. Any work of art that generates a response, however positive or negative, deserves measured consideration as to why it provoked such a reaction. By evaluating our own feelings toward art, be it poems, plays, or paintings, we clarify our own position to the work and begin to understand the characteristics in us that may have prompted such feeling. A work of art always tells us more about ourselves than it does about itself.

"That said, if we were to look at this situation critically, we would see politics have been confused with poetry. This is not to say the poem is not political — it obviously is in its treatment of race — but it political only in that it approaches the issue of colour in an abstracted, poetic instance: in images and metaphors, although admittedly these are clumsy and obvious.

"I do not think the poem should be taught, but only on the basis that it is not a very good poem. It triggered an outcry because it is too blatant in the way in it uses race as an element of its construction. If I can offer a recommendation that both parties might find more satisfying, I would suggest 'A Far Cry from Africa' by the St. Lucian poet and Noble laureate Derek Walcott. Satisfying to the educators because it is more complex and challenging, and satisfying to the parents because it is enough of a poem to treat the politics of race circumspectly."

Karen Belboda wrote: "As one born biracial, while I did not find the poem offensive, I agree with the parent that this poem may not be age appropriate for eight year old children especially presented in a "learn and read in assembly" format. "Did the teacher who introduced this poem have a discussion about the content of the poem with those chosen to participate in the assembly?

"To introduce a poem, that would very obviously stir one's emotions in such a manner, at any level, should evoke some sort of discussions with students to bring a greater understanding of the intended message by the poet. The teacher missed a great opportunity to bring positive dialogue and the foundation for understanding of racial issues to a group of young students.

"Teaching children is difficult enough without the added dimension of racial issues. The teacher should be commended for his or her attempt to bolster a young black child's confidence in his or herself, but to do this, as stated, without dialogue causes the intended message to lose impact and cause distress as seen."

Gary Brangman wrote: "This would have been a great poem for an older class, one academically and emotionally mature enough to appreciate it. That is the only error here, that the class in question was too young.

"As a lover of all forms of poetry, I was compelled to comment on the controversy. For clarification, I am a white Bermudian, and I do not have children attending East End Primary.

"I have no objection with the content of the poem. Black children should be taught to have pride in their colour, that there are many positive things in life that are "black". What surprises me about parents` responses is that they so strongly define this poem as anti-white.

"While it is obvious that "they" and "others" refers to limitations imposed on blacks by whites, it is a far cry from a condemnation of whites as a whole. Rather than a message of division, ultimately the message is one of equality before God, and emphasising it`s truth to one race, does not diminish it for another."

Jenna Cleckley wrote: "For an eight year old, this poem is premature, high school — this poem would be understood.

"It is a beautiful poem and left me saying, "I'm black and I'm proud.

"I understand how (the mother Amba Smith) feels, as I read the beginning but the COMPLETE poem must be read to understand it. Being a black women you should be able to relate to it (the struggles, burdens and pressures of life) but should find blessed peace and happiness knowing that you was built to be able to withstand it. Stop focusing on the beginning and listen to what God says as that all that matters. With that you can hold your head up and strut your stuff."

Janet Smith said: "The poem "Why Am I Black" I think is too advanced for an 8 year old.

" It is, in fact, quite a lovely piece of work, and the first part is quite beautifully answered in the second part. But the first part is, in my humble opinion, too brutal for a youngster to be able to "compartmentalise" whilst waiting for the second part. It would be far better served introduced in the upper grades where there is the chance of a better understanding of the work in it's entirety.

"Faith is to believe what we do not see: and the reward of that faith is to see what we believe."