And yet the Classics, if read at all in our schools (let alone not banned from the classroom), are of late approached with heavy doses of liberal guilt.
Not a problem for today's english teachers, who delight in romantic downfall of Western pride.
Posted on 03/26/2006 10:45:05 AM PST by wintertime
English teachers at Malibu High School are supporting a student committee's selection of a controversial novel about adult-oriented subjects for a campuswide reading event for grades 9-12.
The book, "Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold, rocketed to bestseller......in 2003. It is written as a narrative in the voice of a 14-year-old girl who had been raped, murdered and dismembered by a neighbor. The girl watches from heaven as survivors grapple with her death, and as her family falls apart.
( snip)
"This book is a very touchy subject," said Laurel Thorne, a Juan Cabrillo Elementary School teacher, who spoke as the parent of a Malibu High student.
( snip) "There is a murder victim talking about sex and affairs," she said. "It's important to learn about the human condition but children also need to be uplifted."
Parent Cathy Egner predicted, "There will be kids who will be haunted for the rest of their lives by the things they will be exposed to for the first time in this book. Why do we have to think that we are so politically correct that we have to deal with these issues now, at this stage in their lives?"
Roberta Bogle said "Lovely Bones" is a disturbing book for many adults.
"I could not get through the first chapter," she said.
( snip) Some parents defended the book.
"There is a real advantage to having books like this read in a classroom setting," said Gina Burrell. "They provide great discussion points and provide a real enriching experience; and it's not like they're reading these books and not talking about it."
( snip)
The principal said the school plans to send parents a letter describing the book and the assignment, and give parents an option to have their children read a different book .........."
(Excerpt) Read more at malibutimes.com ...
Also....the principal magnanimously suggests that some children have the option of chosing a different book. Well....that's just great but the children don't have the option of not associating or assemblying with the teachers and students who have read the book and have been politically, culturally, and religiously influenced by it.
Oh,,,,and before some government school defending troll states that parents can homeschool or privately school anytime, I would like to point out two important points.
1) Government schools are a price-fixed monopoly that creates a very hostile business climate for the creation of private schools.
2) Government schools are ENORMOUSLY expensive! It costs more than $10,883 per year, per government K-12 child. That burdens parents with heavy school taxes.
3) Then when private schools are scarce and both parents are working to pay school taxes the government offers a "choice": Use the government school ( that can never be politically, culturally, or religiously neutral OR have armed police at the door!
Great "choice" there! ( sarcasm)
Hm,,,,Don't our state and federal constitutions have something important to say about establishing religious belief and free assembly?
The following is an excellent essay explaining why government schools are unconstituonal on a state and federal level:
http://www.newswithviews.com/Stuter/stuter9.htm
I couldn't put this book down after reading the first chapter. It's a great book. It IS disturbing and it is sad. There was ONE part I didn't like towards the end of it but otherwise I found this book to be thought provoking and haunting. And it did not sway my belief system in on way or another. It is a work of fiction (based upon certain experiences the author had in her life).
Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet" is usually read in the 9th grade (in any decent school district anyhow). This story eals with arranged marriage, love, lust, jealousy, murder and suicide. Maybe R&J should be banned too.
It is an excellent book.
I dunno if I would recommend it for grades 9-12 though. 12 I think so, but 9..
And Romeo and Juliet reads like a tragic fairy tale. Lovely Bones has quite a bit more graphics..
And yet the Classics, if read at all in our schools (let alone not banned from the classroom), are of late approached with heavy doses of liberal guilt.
Not a problem for today's english teachers, who delight in romantic downfall of Western pride.
True about it being kind of graphic - in a few places. And yes, 12th graders (16/17 year olds) ought to be able to deal with it. I agree that it may be too adult for 9th graders.
I read this book with my book club and read it in 2 days because I couldn't put it down. I don't think I would recommend this to 9th and 10th graders for maturity reasons, but 11th and 12th graders would be ok.
Had old Silas in ninth grade. Yes, it isn't something to make a 15 year old love reading.
I dunno if they do this anymore, but what really helped spark reading for me happened back in grade school. We had an hour, I think, in the library at least several times a week.
We could read whatever we wanted and the librarian was there to help us find and explore what interested us.
A kid, a talented librarian and a big room full of books. Magic.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.