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Post by chonies on Jan 7, 2011 18:57:17 GMT -4
I love this discussion! So, what's everyone's take on the Alan Gribben, the Twain scholar who has made the revisions? Misguided? Morally bankrupt? Possibly pulling one over on people?
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Post by angelaudie on Jan 7, 2011 19:26:22 GMT -4
Dr. Freude, giving historical context and encouraging discussion is exactly what teachers should do. I think what leads to students feeling hurt and uncomfortable is when teachers do not encourage discussion about the controversial issues often found in classic literature. Though I think most teachers know this and make sure to give context and let students voice their opinions. It's also an excellent opportunity for to teach students how to agree to disagree on issues. I agree. I'm a teacher (currently unemployed) but it's been my experience adolescents can tackle difficult issues. Generally, it's the parents that can't handle their kids learning about these issues. Maybe they think shielding their kids from such issues is protecting them. Still, it is frustrating. I live in the Bible belt so there is always some parent trying to get Harry Potter banned to save the children's immortal souls. What kills me is those parents often admit they've never read the books but since their pastor told them it's evil then it must be! Speaking of Mr. Potter, I do have an amusing tale of how telling people not to write a book can backfire. A friend of my mom's is in my town's little mom and pop bookstore. The place is usually pretty busy but a quiet busy. So, mom's friend is just browsing through the titles when a woman comes in. The woman notices the store is selling the Harry Potter series. The woman just freaking loses it. She starts screaming about how evil the books are, how having those books in the store is endangering the souls of all those in the store (I guess just being near them could do damage), how children are being lured to evil, and how the God is going to punish the store owners for selling such filth. She then storms out as people just stare at her. No sooner is she out the door then every single person in that store races over to grab a copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone including mom's friend. Everybody, mostly comprising of adults, are all saying the same thing, "Gee, it looked like just a silly kid's book but any book causing that reaction is probably worth checking out!" Had the woman simply kept her mouth shut odds are none of those people would have picked up the book. ETA: He claims the only reason why he did the revisions is because so many teachers have complained to him that school won't allow the book to be taught as is. It seems, in his mind, he's giving teachers the opportunity to teach a classic piece of literature. You can read an excerpt from his intro here.
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Post by Wol on Jan 9, 2011 18:49:33 GMT -4
Points for effort, nice try, but no. If your school board is so backassed that you can't teach a classic piece of literature as it was intended to be read, then your students are going to have to find the book on their own and do a little autodidacting.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 24, 2024 4:09:35 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2011 23:37:44 GMT -4
I'll argue the opposite. If one word is what's keeping the book out of some schools, it is a good thing that teachers have the option of using the abridged version. "Huck Finn" is more than that one word. The subject of race and racism in the book extends beyond that word. There are countless other themes in the book besides race that are worth visiting. Fact is, most teens don't search out stuff on their own. Assigned reading in school is often some of the only fine literature most people read in their lives and it's almost always the main way people are introduced to a lifetime of reading such books. The abridged version isn't the best option but it's better than not including the book at all.
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Post by incognito on Jan 10, 2011 16:20:01 GMT -4
I'll argue the opposite. If one word is what's keeping the book out of some schools, it is a good thing that teachers have the option of using the abridged version. "Huck Finn" is more than that one word. The subject of race and racism in the book extends beyond that word. There are countless other themes in the book besides race that are worth visiting. Fact is, most teens don't search out stuff on their own. Assigned reading in school is often some of the only fine literature most people read in their lives and it's almost always the main way people are introduced to a lifetime of reading such books. The abridged version isn't the best option but it's better than not including the book at all. I completely agree, and want to add that I like Rick Riordan's take on the issue. Also, people like Roger Ebert can shut the hell up. Ebert, I thought you were so cool, too.  |
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Gigiree
Sloane Ranger
Procrastinators Unite. . . Tomorrow.
Posts: 2,555
Jul 23, 2010 10:27:31 GMT -4
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Post by Gigiree on Jan 10, 2011 16:50:28 GMT -4
Also, people like Roger Ebert can shut the hell up. Ebert, I thought you were so cool, too. What exactly did Ebert say? I read about his Twitter post about slave vs "n____", which he later retracted after others pointed out he wasn't likely to be called either. Did he say something else? |
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Post by angelaudie on Jan 10, 2011 17:05:09 GMT -4
Also, people like Roger Ebert can shut the hell up. Ebert, I thought you were so cool, too. What exactly did Ebert say? I read about his Twitter post about slave vs "n____", which he later retracted after others pointed out he wasn't likely to be called either. Did he say something else? Ebert twittered he'd rather be called a n***** than a slave. But, to his credit, he later apologized and admitted that he has no idea what either would feel like to be called and he had no business presuming to. It was an actual apology as in "I screwed up and it will never happen again" not a "I'm sorry if you were offended". |
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Post by incognito on Jan 10, 2011 17:05:35 GMT -4
Also, people like Roger Ebert can shut the hell up. Ebert, I thought you were so cool, too. What exactly did Ebert say? I read about his Twitter post about slave vs "n____", which he later retracted after others pointed out he wasn't likely to be called either. Did he say something else? No, that was it. I don't think he ever actually apologized for the remark - I don't believe that simply saying "I shouldn't have said that!" constitutes an apology, though, especially considering how stupid his comment was. Wait, I didn't think that was the case? I mean, I read his tweet and blog and he never actually said that he was sorry, unless there was something that I missed? |
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Post by angelaudie on Jan 10, 2011 17:09:22 GMT -4
What exactly did Ebert say? I read about his Twitter post about slave vs "n____", which he later retracted after others pointed out he wasn't likely to be called either. Did he say something else? No, that was it. I don't think he ever actually apologized for the remark - I don't believe that simply saying "I shouldn't have said that!" constitutes an apology, though, especially considering how stupid his comment was. He flat out said he was wrong and admitted the other side was right. I don't think you actually have to say, "I'm sorry" in order to apologize. To it's easier to say, "I'm sorry" than to say, "I was wrong". |
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Post by incognito on Jan 10, 2011 17:11:51 GMT -4
True, he did say he was wrong. But I think he should have done both. Especially in his blog. He could take the time to dismiss HuffPo's coverage of the controversy, but couldn't take the time to type out "I'm sorry"?
ETA: Also, an admission of wrongdoing doesn't equal an apology. It doesn't have to be an either-or situation. It sucks when someone gives a "sorry you're offended" apology (aka apology without admission of wrongdoing) and IMO it sucks the other way around, too. It would be one thing if I thought that Ebert happened to be truly remorseful, but that's not the impression I get from his blog. He does pay lip service to his comments being stupid, but he spends more time bitching about HuffPo. Newsflash, Ebert - Stop complaining about HuffPo, you deserved all the shit they threw your way.
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