To kill a mockingbird at SR

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

To some people it isnt an insane suggestion. Again, unless you indicate that it is ironic or insane people are going to take what you wrote seriously.

I am not a mind reader.

Well I guess we've really jumped the shark when people think that a proposal to demolish Mount Vernon is serious.

[Anonymous]

Don't believe for a second that SR's woke cleansing of the curriculum will end with TKAM. It never does.

Over the course of a few months last year the woke mobs went from toppling statues of confederate generals (arguably justifiable) to attacking statues of Abraham Lincoln, including one erected and paid for by freed slaves. The changes to SR's curriculum are just beginning.

[Anonymous]

It's a race to the bottom to see who can be more woke. As a second tier school SR has to keep up with the big players in this market who are all-in with wokeness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What are you talking about? I never said not to assign The Bluest eye or invisible man. We are talking about To kill a mockingbird which some peope think it is no longer worth reading. I disagree.

Got it?

Do you think that a book has to be assigned by school to be considered worth reading? Deciding not to read in this year's curriculum it does not mean anyone thinks it isn't worth reading.

I'm an AA woman and I think TKAM is a great book to assign - we can talk about all those things about it that are flawed and how thinking about race has evolved. I'm also happy not to assign it and instead delve into some of the hundreds of other great books.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t gone back to re-review the thread, but I don’t think anyone’s saying TKAM is an actively racist book. It’s just 60 years old and reflects views and language that are no longer relatable to today’s students, and some that are actively offensive.

When we were students (late 1980s for me) there were plenty of books, songs, language and movies from the 1920s-40s that we recognized as no longer acceptable and would not have celebrated them. Gone with the Wind, Song of the South, Birth of a Nation, plus countless songs are examples. So why is it hard to accept that a book from 1960 might be problematic today?

[Anonymous]

I don't think anyone is saying there is an issue with changing set texts. That happens all the time.

The issue was the need to send out a letter announcing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are you talking about? I never said not to assign The Bluest eye or invisible man. We are talking about To kill a mockingbird which some peope think it is no longer worth reading. I disagree.

Got it?

Do you think that a book has to be assigned by school to be considered worth reading? Deciding not to read in this year's curriculum it does not mean anyone thinks it isn't worth reading.

I'm an AA woman and I think TKAM is a great book to assign - we can talk about all those things about it that are flawed and how thinking about race has evolved. I'm also happy not to assign it and instead delve into some of the hundreds of other great books.

I’m with the PP. TKAM is one of my favorite books. In addition to race there are so many other issues addressed in the book - differences is socioeconomic classes, dangers of group think, justice, unwarranted fear of “others” , how assumptions can be false, etc. It is also simply well written.

That said, not only are there other books that address issues of race, there are books that address race in a way that is more relevant to how things are today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are you talking about? I never said not to assign The Bluest eye or invisible man. We are talking about To kill a mockingbird which some peope think it is no longer worth reading. I disagree.

Got it?

Do you think that a book has to be assigned by school to be considered worth reading? Deciding not to read in this year's curriculum it does not mean anyone thinks it isn't worth reading.

I'm an AA woman and I think TKAM is a great book to assign - we can talk about all those things about it that are flawed and how thinking about race has evolved. I'm also happy not to assign it and instead delve into some of the hundreds of other great books.

I’m with the PP. TKAM is one of my favorite books. In addition to race there are so many other issues addressed in the book - differences is socioeconomic classes, dangers of group think, justice, unwarranted fear of “others” , how assumptions can be false, etc. It is also simply well written.

That said, not only are there other books that address issues of race, there are books that address race in a way that is more relevant to how things are today.

Well put. But sad that we can't do both. I have always found Boo Radley storyline to be sort of the moral enter of that book.... If we categorize TKAM as a "race" book (which seems like a gross oversimplification) and then pick some other book that is more relevant to race today, we miss out on some wonderful aspects of a wonderful book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are you talking about? I never said not to assign The Bluest eye or invisible man. We are talking about To kill a mockingbird which some peope think it is no longer worth reading. I disagree.

Got it?

Do you think that a book has to be assigned by school to be considered worth reading? Deciding not to read in this year's curriculum it does not mean anyone thinks it isn't worth reading.

I'm an AA woman and I think TKAM is a great book to assign - we can talk about all those things about it that are flawed and how thinking about race has evolved. I'm also happy not to assign it and instead delve into some of the hundreds of other great books.

Let's face it pp. Most parents are working and aren't going to force their 12 year old to read TKMB. They wont have the time or energy. Teachers can provide background and provide necessary talking points.

If schools don't assign it than most kids won't read it. And that is a shame.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]It's a race to the bottom to see who can be more woke. As a second tier school SR has to keep up with the big players in this market who are all-in with wokeness. [/quote]

If you followed the “Black@“ and “LGBTQ@“ Instagram accounts created last summer by current and former students from GDS, Potomac, Sidwell...you’d know SR was pretty much on par with the first tier schools. The difference may be they’re trying harder to address those issues given the emphasis on social justice at SR coupled with their desire to be a first tier school. It’s good to teach the girls how NOT to discriminate. Our best colleges and employers really like good global citizens.

As for TKAM, Lee wrote “Go Set a Watchman” for a reason - to illustrate Atticus’ racism. They really should be taught together. A bit much for MS? Oprah called TKAM America’s novel. If taught as a story of privilege, maybe. Teaching it that way anywhere at SR? Watch “those” committee moms burst into flames! Let’s go with “The Bluest Eye.”

We are a mixed race, Center Left, non-Catholic family who chose SR (over the first tier and other girls schools) because we wanted a K-12 girls school with a spiritual component. Not small, not big. Solid education. Strong social justice focus. It wasn’t perfect, and I raised inclusion concerns while there which I have expressed on this forum. Can’t say I was a popular parent, AT ALL, but I can say they listened and supported our daughter. She read everything from Homer to Toni Morrison and she’s crushing it at a top college.

Go Gators for trying to be better.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It's a race to the bottom to see who can be more woke. As a second tier school SR has to keep up with the big players in this market who are all-in with wokeness. [/quote]

If you followed the “Black@“ and “LGBTQ@“ Instagram accounts created last summer by current and former students from GDS, Potomac, Sidwell...you’d know SR was pretty much on par with the first tier schools. The difference may be they’re trying harder to address those issues given the emphasis on social justice at SR coupled with their desire to be a first tier school. It’s good to teach the girls how NOT to discriminate. Our best colleges and employers really like good global citizens.

As for TKAM, Lee wrote “Go Set a Watchman” for a reason - to illustrate Atticus’ racism. They really should be taught together. A bit much for MS? Oprah called TKAM America’s novel. If taught as a story of privilege, maybe. Teaching it that way anywhere at SR? Watch “those” committee moms burst into flames! Let’s go with “The Bluest Eye.”

We are a mixed race, Center Left, non-Catholic family who chose SR (over the first tier and other girls schools) because we wanted a K-12 girls school with a spiritual component. Not small, not big. Solid education. Strong social justice focus. It wasn’t perfect, and I raised inclusion concerns while there which I have expressed on this forum. Can’t say I was a popular parent, AT ALL, but I can say they listened and supported our daughter. She read everything from Homer to Toni Morrison and she’s crushing it at a top college.

Go Gators for trying to be better.
[/quote]

Harper Lee never wanted Go tell a watchman to be published. It was done after her death. So no pp you dont know what Lee wanted.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]

If you followed the “Black@“ and “LGBTQ@“ Instagram accounts created last summer by current and former students from GDS, Potomac, Sidwell...you’d know SR was pretty much on par with the first tier schools. The difference may be [b][u]they’re trying harder[/u][/b] to address those issues given the emphasis on social justice at SR coupled with their desire to be a first tier school. It’s good to teach the girls how NOT to discriminate.
Go Gators for trying to be better.
[/quote]

How exactly are they trying harder than other schools in the area? I am not aware of a comparable school with such a lack of racial diversity in leadership positions.

Doesn't a complete lack of racial diversity in academic leadership show discrimination rather than the lack of it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If you followed the “Black@“ and “LGBTQ@“ Instagram accounts created last summer by current and former students from GDS, Potomac, Sidwell...you’d know SR was pretty much on par with the first tier schools. The difference may be they’re trying harder to address those issues given the emphasis on social justice at SR coupled with their desire to be a first tier school. It’s good to teach the girls how NOT to discriminate.
Go Gators for trying to be better.

How exactly are they trying harder than other schools in the area? I am not aware of a comparable school with such a lack of racial diversity in leadership positions.

Doesn't a complete lack of racial diversity in academic leadership show discrimination rather than the lack of it?

(Reposted because formatting didn't work)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stone Ridge Kids won’t be reading tkam this year. Email sent out to MS today. Because of racist language and because Harper Lee was white so she shouldn’t write about black people. Students are unhappy about it. Me too.

I seriously wonder about people like you. Is your kid reading this book IN CLASS worth humiliating or making black students feel extremely uncomfortable? No, it’s not. Have your kid read the book at home. It’s not the school’s job to raise your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stone Ridge Kids won’t be reading tkam this year. Email sent out to MS today. Because of racist language and because Harper Lee was white so she shouldn’t write about black people. Students are unhappy about it. Me too.

I seriously wonder about people like you. Is your kid reading this book IN CLASS worth humiliating or making black students feel extremely uncomfortable? No, it’s not. Have your kid read the book at home. It’s not the school’s job to raise your kid.

Why do the antiracists feel the need to be quite so offensive?