Censorship is something I have never really thought of until now. I figured “hey we live in the 21st century I’m going to be allowed to teach what I want with what books I want”. Now I know this seems like a crazy idea. We need to teach to curriculum, but who decides whether or not a book is appropriate fir my students to read. As a teacher I am going to know my students so I should decide if they can handle a book and what books they should not be exposed to.
I would really like o know who makes these all powerful book decisions. Who gets together and says yes students can learn that and know they can’t learn that. Children are going to learn everything god and bad whether it is in the classroom or out on the streets. Lets be real with these children, the world is not pretty. So maybe some of the literature or language within the literature should not be pretty. Take for example the changing of Mark Twain’s classic Adventures of Huckleberry Finn taking the n-word out of the book. While I agree it is a nasty word so I am NOT encouraging its usage. I do believe it was appropriate to take the word out. It is part of the language of the novel. In my opinion it would be like deciding that the Holocaust is not an appropriate topic to teach or students shouldn’t be allowed to read Twilight. What make Twilight (including sex, love, lust and violence) more appropriate for students than a classic novel. Who decides this? I personally would like to have a word with them!!
I agree that students need to read real literature. Not some book that sugar coats the reality of society. Because what is that doing for students in the long run?
ReplyDeleteI think it was Webb who talked about history in literature...Anyways, what I was thinking when I read this, and that article, is that we are taking out history and importance when we ban literature and try to erase certain words, such as the n word in Huck Finn. Yes, I can see how it is offensive, but really?! Please read this book and tell me that it does not support the idea of the strongest human bonds, no matter the race of individuals (shown with Huck and Jim), and the idea of equality.
ReplyDeleteBy taking this out of our classroom, we are also loosing history. If it is not important to know how our culture was in the past, why even have history classes in our schools?! We probably shouldn't be teaching topics like American colonization (or any for that matter), slavery, or the Holocaust. It may offend someone. It shouldn't be taught, because hey, isn't ignorance bliss? .....I think not.
It's good that the reading is making you more aware of what you are getting yourself into when becoming a teacher. I completely agree with knowing your students and being able to give them the books that they can handle, yet as we know it is not just our opinion that matters. It's kind of like a run in with the law, you wanna avoid it yet how can you if you have such strong emotions attached to a unit with a book that may be controversial. I agree, taking away books that really matter to the history of literature is not benefiting our students in any way possible, and those who make these decisions should reevaluate what goes into taking away. My only chance to agree with those who do not want these books in the classroom, is if I were able to use a more modern book that still uses issues that provoke the same issues that one that is banned would.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Ignorance is in no way the answer. Our students will be introduced into a part of society in which there are mixed races or even themes that people who condone censorship deem "inappropriate." The better educated they are from the beginning, the better off they will be.
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