Blog #7

"The Ripple Effect of Censorship"
The idea of censorship has always made me uneasy and is certainly one of my fears with teaching. I think now a days it is risky to choose books because students, their families, and administrators are often quick to point the finger and are sensitive towards certain issues being raised in a classroom. My thought on censorship is much like the author and the majority of teachers that were talked about in the article. Personally, I don't see banning books or getting rid of them as solving any kind of a problem. I think that's the problem with America today anyway. When something raises a concern or someone is opposed to it we automatically get rid of it to prevent conflict. However, I think it is quite the disservice to our students if we get rid of books that clearly have its place in the classroom. I think it's insane that the idea of censorship is sneaking its way in to the classroom more often and that teachers are afraid and getting fired over texts they teach. As for me, I think I am going to teach what I think should be taught but I don't think I am going to disregard the fact that I may have some backlash. I think it comes down to compromise. I bend a little and you bend a little and hopefully we get somewhere from there. The thing that surprised me the most was the story about the teacher who was forced to resign AFTER she got the approval to use the text. I think that is completely unneccessary and I feel like it was too harsh for something that she got the approval of. In a way that scares me as a future teacher. It would be awful to think that you were trying to helpful for students' learning and you turn around and get canned for reading a book they may be banned. I was also surprised as the drama and gossip teachers have with each other. They warn new teachers what they should read and what they shouldn't. In that respect, I don't think any other teacher has the right to try and dictate another teacher's reading choice..even if they are trying to be helpful.  I feel like every teacher should make up their own mind and decide for themselves.  It is easy for a new teacher to feel frightened by the books they choose so an older teacher should let them pick books themselves instead of from experience.  After all, each teacher is different and may be the new teacher would be able to pull off using a frowned up on text.  However, I do think it's important to build relationships with the people involves with the education process because the more people you have on your side and understand the better. Keeping the communication and book selecting process open to parents may help in the long run because concerns are taken care of before you are halfway through a text.
     Personally, I find the fear that teachers and myself have as unavoidable yet unneccessary. Some teachers aren't afraid to teach certain things but others are. It depends on the situation I suppose but I think a learning environment should not be run off of fear but off what the teacher (who is in fact the expert!) thinks is best. I think censorship is an old-fashioned and definitely an Un-American idea. Adolescents are exposed to material every day that may be explicit or uncomfortable but that is the fact of the real world. How are our students supposed to grow and understand the world if we take away opportunities? These books aren't going to go away and us pro-longing their reading of the material is just sort of wrong. Students should be exposed and read anything that they want. going back to my one reflection as I stated before, I read Stephen King in third grade. Naturally my teacher was concerned and almost called me parents. What good would that have done? A) Taking away a good book is just going to make me want to read it more. B) It would prevent my growth of a reader and C) The themes and lessons in a Stephen King book is just as important as those in Dr. Seuss just at a more mature level. By censoring I think we are preventing our students from becoming mature readers. Obviously the real concern is getting our students to be lifelong readers and we can't possibly do that if we live in fear or if our book choices are going to be limited to those who do not understand the importance of the material.

Fact: I was surprised to find out that Shakespeare's works have been banned. I never really thought of those themes being questioned but now I see why.


Chapter 6

Huckleberry Finn has been taught for so long and when I think of censorship this is definitely the first piece that comes to mind. I remember reading it in my eleventh grade American literature course and I don't remember anyone being offended or my teacher saying anything regarding it being banned. I do agree, however, that some African American parents my be concerned but I don't think it's okay to take it out of the curriculum. Racism was a part of America's past and it's important to show that if we are talking about a certain time period. However, I do not feel comfortable using "the word". I still have no idea what I am going to do in by classroom in regards to that. I thought it was interesting when the author talked about the incident where parents threw a fit over it and all these people and the media got involved. I was thinking, "How could any book get this much publicity for something like that?!". I do think it is important for teachers to talk to parents and students about it and help get rid of any concerns. I think it is an uncomfortable topic, but I think the book is relevant to American history. Perhaps we should have the parents read it first? I do think there is a way that it needs to be brought about and I don't think we should thrust the book in our students' faces. Personally, I am unsure about how I would teach this piece or how to approach it. I don't want to offend anyone but I do like the book as a piece of literature. Perhaps you could invite an African American of the community in to the classroom and have them talk about it. Maybe if someone who could understand the concerns talked to the students then maybe the school, students, and parents would feel more at ease. I also think a history lesson would need to be introduced first before presenting the text. One thing that really does get on my nerves is when the book gets dumbed down and elements get taken out to make it more user friendly. I think that is completely foolish and it takes away so much from the book. Overall, I understand why is raises concern but I think it is possible to be taught without offending anyone. The statistics of the books use is astronomical and it surprised me that that many schools use/used it. It obviously has relavence in a classroom and has a place there. I do plan on teaching it (hopefully!) but I am not comfortable on how to approach it.