Comments on: Ride a bike to the library! http://www.ssportsman.com/2006/09/go-to-the-library Words and images from the adventures of Emily and Scott Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:33:39 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Jack Bonawitz http://www.ssportsman.com/2006/09/go-to-the-library/comment-page-1#comment-89 Jack Bonawitz Mon, 16 Oct 2006 22:27:55 +0000 http://www.ssportsman.com/index.php/?p=215#comment-89 I am a retired English teacher who has taught several of the books on the list (Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, Ordinary People, The Scarlet Letter, The Red Badge of Courage, The Great Gatsby, etc.). In thirty-one years, I never had one challenge from a parent, and only two challenges from students. In one case, the young woman read the book in spite of her step-father's concerns. In the other case, a young woman explained that she did not mind the language of Catcher in the Rye "because that's the way teenagers really talk." However, she found the end of Grapes of Wrath objectionable since Rose of Sharon gives a dying man her breastmilk. Why that should be objectionable, I'm not quite sure. I think many teachers get themselves into trouble because of the way they deal with these books. When, for example, we read about pre-marital sex in Ordinary People, I didn't make a point of discussing it. My students (high-school juniors) knew what was going on, so why did we need to dwell on it? In one case, a colleague assigned a controversial book that she had not read herself. When she was challenged, she had no basis on which she could argue. I do hope that teachers will continue to teach the good books, regardless of their content, because these books frame life in ways other books can't. No one, for example, can be dismissive of the connection between parenting and teenage suicide after reading Ordinary People. Fight the good fight! Jack Bonawitz I am a retired English teacher who has taught several of the books on the list (Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, Ordinary People, The Scarlet Letter, The Red Badge of Courage, The Great Gatsby, etc.). In thirty-one years, I never had one challenge from a parent, and only two challenges from students. In one case, the young woman read the book in spite of her step-father’s concerns. In the other case, a young woman explained that she did not mind the language of Catcher in the Rye “because that’s the way teenagers really talk.” However, she found the end of Grapes of Wrath objectionable since Rose of Sharon gives a dying man her breastmilk. Why that should be objectionable, I’m not quite sure.

I think many teachers get themselves into trouble because of the way they deal with these books. When, for example, we read about pre-marital sex in Ordinary People, I didn’t make a point of discussing it. My students (high-school juniors) knew what was going on, so why did we need to dwell on it?

In one case, a colleague assigned a controversial book that she had not read herself. When she was challenged, she had no basis on which she could argue.

I do hope that teachers will continue to teach the good books, regardless of their content, because these books frame life in ways other books can’t. No one, for example, can be dismissive of the connection between parenting and teenage suicide after reading Ordinary People.

Fight the good fight!

Jack Bonawitz

]]> By: Jeni http://www.ssportsman.com/2006/09/go-to-the-library/comment-page-1#comment-69 Jeni Mon, 02 Oct 2006 03:00:09 +0000 http://www.ssportsman.com/index.php/?p=215#comment-69 I used to be an English teacher. It never ceased to amaze me how much parents would complain about the books we'd read in class...classics, no less. A number of the books on your list were "issues" with some of my old parents. No wonder I didn't last as a teacher...I couldn't put up with the parents. I used to be an English teacher. It never ceased to amaze me how much parents would complain about the books we’d read in class…classics, no less. A number of the books on your list were “issues” with some of my old parents. No wonder I didn’t last as a teacher…I couldn’t put up with the parents.

]]> By: Matt http://www.ssportsman.com/2006/09/go-to-the-library/comment-page-1#comment-62 Matt Wed, 27 Sep 2006 16:13:58 +0000 http://www.ssportsman.com/index.php/?p=215#comment-62 It would be interesting to see if attempts to ban books might actually be on the increase............ It would be interesting to see if attempts to ban books might actually be on the increase…………

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