To kill a mockingbird at SR

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would like to provide some food for thought on the matter for those who have a problem with this. Imagine being a black student and constantly reading these "classics" which shows a history of time, in which blacks were treated sub-human and the author makes no apology, but writes it from a perspective of it is what it is. Page by page, you have to read words that cut deep to your race. However, rather than an awakening of morale taking place, you have an educated white lawyer that takes on a case because of his daughter. The poor uneducated black is once again saved by the educated white man, who takes pitty on him. But wait, this is a classic, to hell with others, it's written well.

You really are making things up. No one is reading just this book. No one teaches this book the way you are perceiving it (and it sounds like you didn't even read it). The issues you raise are exactly what they talk about in class. It isn't read as "the best book about how life is or was."

[Anonymous]

The teachers at Stone Ridge are largely stellar, caring professionals who have been in the trenches this year with issues around race, the pandemic, concerns around wellness, and so many other trials. I'm wondering if we might stand back, have a bit of grace, and honor the decisions they are making. I'm willing to bet that they are genuinely working to teach and design curriculum in ways that are in the best interest of all of their students. As other posters have mentioned, nothing prohibits anyone from checking Harper Lee out of the local library and reading with their children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1. Our school dumped Macbeth for The Bluest Eye. Just silly.

“Silly”? You’re the first person I’ve heard to use that word about the Bluest Eye, or any of Toni Morrison’s books. Have you actually read it?

I did read it. And its fine at best. But it is not Macbeth. It is not even Beloved. So just silly stands. Just because a book provides a diverse view point does not make it a classic and it is an overall loss for the school to pretend that it does.

[Anonymous]

I wrote my college essay in 1985 about serving on a commission in my very small, overwhelmingly white town to decide whether or not to keep TKAM on the curriculum after a Black student - the only one in our HS - complained. I advocated for keeping the book, and that happened to be what the school board decided. I got into an Ivy League school at least in part because of that essay.

I think about that a lot now - would I take the same stance? And would that essay help or hurt me if I was applying to college today? I don't know, but it's sort of fascinating to me that these debates have been around for so long and still divide people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So wait. We pretend that the last 400 years of this country don’t exist? Sorry, do we not read the Bible either since there is all sorts of racist and homophobic info in there? What about Holocaust books? Or books about the Exodus, since Jews were slaves for how many years? I don’t believe in banning anything unless content is not age appropriate. I do believe in full balance and excellent teaching. A great teacher can navigate this with balance and care, as suggested above. Toni Morrison was brilliant, and fully agree with that choice AS WELL. Or THUG. Maybe a compare and contrast! So many other options besides excluding for archaic and offensive perspective.

I'm pretty sure that the school isn't covering all 400 years of American history in one class anyway. They aren't banning the book -- in fact, I'd bet money you can find a copy or two in the school library. I bet they also aren't reading the Bible in that English class, nor novels about the Exodus. In fact, I'd bet I can rattle off a list of classic novels that they are NOT reading, because one can only read so many books in class. So if you're okay with adding TBE, what book would you remove from the class reading list to make room?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teachers at Stone Ridge are largely stellar, caring professionals who have been in the trenches this year with issues around race, the pandemic, concerns around wellness, and so many other trials. I'm wondering if we might stand back, have a bit of grace, and honor the decisions they are making. I'm willing to bet that they are genuinely working to teach and design curriculum in ways that are in the best interest of all of their students. As other posters have mentioned, nothing prohibits anyone from checking Harper Lee out of the local library and reading with their children.

But then where will people get fodder for their culture war?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would like to provide some food for thought on the matter for those who have a problem with this. Imagine being a black student and constantly reading these "classics" which shows a history of time, in which blacks were treated sub-human and the author makes no apology, but writes it from a perspective of it is what it is. Page by page, you have to read words that cut deep to your race. However, rather than an awakening of morale taking place, you have an educated white lawyer that takes on a case because of his daughter. The poor uneducated black is once again saved by the educated white man, who takes pitty on him. But wait, this is a classic, to hell with others, it's written well.

You really are making things up. No one is reading just this book. No one teaches this book the way you are perceiving it (and it sounds like you didn't even read it). The issues you raise are exactly what they talk about in class. It isn't read as "the best book about how life is or was."

But why do you need to read this book in school? You get to read, what, 10 books per year in high school. Instead of recycling the list each year and figuring out how you need to change the way you teach, as old approaches are recognized as problematic, why not take a fresh look at what your curriculum is intended to achieve and what books best help you achieve those goals?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, he’s not saved.

I think you miss the point of the pp. It's the male white savior narrative. He clearly didn't have a female, black, Hispanic, and or Asian lawyer.

I understand that, but I find it interesting that the fact that Atticus Finch is an ineffectual, would-be white savior whose client dies horrifically is often overlooked.

[Anonymous]

The book, for those who have studied it, is a coming of age novel about Scout, who experiences a loss of innocence in a backdrop of racist, small-town Deep South, with a relatively (for the times) enlightened father. It can only be read with an understanding of history and place, but in the end, it is a universal story with the backdrop changing over time. THAT is why is it a great book. There are many coming of age stories that are also terrific of course. I just need to make the point that this is not just a story to read at home with no context or analysis. There is a lot to unpack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teachers at Stone Ridge are largely stellar, caring professionals who have been in the trenches this year with issues around race, the pandemic, concerns around wellness, and so many other trials. I'm wondering if we might stand back, have a bit of grace, and honor the decisions they are making. I'm willing to bet that they are genuinely working to teach and design curriculum in ways that are in the best interest of all of their students. As other posters have mentioned, nothing prohibits anyone from checking Harper Lee out of the local library and reading with their children.

"The teachers" as you describe them are not a monolithic group of people who all think the same. However, there is no doubt that the anti-racist stuff has become an orthodoxy that is impossible to argue against.

If you don't agree with it you keep your mouth shut and your head down lest you get tarred with the brush of racism.

The all-powerful communications team has started publishing confessional videos where old white teachers talk about their anti-racist journey.

It's all quite cult-like. Certainly no trace of the "wise freedom" that SR likes to tout. Freedom of thought is not appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would like to provide some food for thought on the matter for those who have a problem with this. Imagine being a black student and constantly reading these "classics" which shows a history of time, in which blacks were treated sub-human and the author makes no apology, but writes it from a perspective of it is what it is. Page by page, you have to read words that cut deep to your race. However, rather than an awakening of morale taking place, you have an educated white lawyer that takes on a case because of his daughter. The poor uneducated black is once again saved by the educated white man, who takes pitty on him. But wait, this is a classic, to hell with others, it's written well.

np But in the book the white man is unable to save the Black man. Maybe you didn't read it either?

A literary analysis could easily get to Tom Robinson 'saved' Atticus Finch--and put in place a series of events that taught his community lasting lessons in humility (Caroline), race recognition (Tom), sexual assault victims (Mayella), embracing the outcast (Dill), and tolerance for mental illness (Boo). The adhesive in the story is a strong black woman, Calpurnia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The book, for those who have studied it, is a coming of age novel about Scout, who experiences a loss of innocence in a backdrop of racist, small-town Deep South, with a relatively (for the times) enlightened father. It can only be read with an understanding of history and place, but in the end, it is a universal story with the backdrop changing over time. THAT is why is it a great book. There are many coming of age stories that are also terrific of course. I just need to make the point that this is not just a story to read at home with no context or analysis. There is a lot to unpack.

Agree 100%. The black-white dynamic of the story is just one dimension; the unknown Boo Radley down the street is all about the unknown Evil Other and how we demonize what we don't know, a very relevant theme for today. Not to mention that skin color is no guarantee of character or honesty.

It's also a vivid portrait of the Jim Crow South that non-southerners can't grasp fully until they see a portrait like this. Plenty of reasons to keep teaching it. At the same time, all the posters saying a class can only do so many books are 100% right too. There will always be choices that some or many don't like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would like to provide some food for thought on the matter for those who have a problem with this. Imagine being a black student and constantly reading these "classics" which shows a history of time, in which blacks were treated sub-human and the author makes no apology, but writes it from a perspective of it is what it is. Page by page, you have to read words that cut deep to your race. However, rather than an awakening of morale taking place, you have an educated white lawyer that takes on a case because of his daughter. The poor uneducated black is once again saved by the educated white man, who takes pitty on him. But wait, this is a classic, to hell with others, it's written well.

The book is an accurate historical reflection of the times. Life back then was a whole lot different from today. Should we ignore history, or learn from it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would like to provide some food for thought on the matter for those who have a problem with this. Imagine being a black student and constantly reading these "classics" which shows a history of time, in which blacks were treated sub-human and the author makes no apology, but writes it from a perspective of it is what it is. Page by page, you have to read words that cut deep to your race. However, rather than an awakening of morale taking place, you have an educated white lawyer that takes on a case because of his daughter. The poor uneducated black is once again saved by the educated white man, who takes pitty on him. But wait, this is a classic, to hell with others, it's written well.

The book is an accurate historical reflection of the times. Life back then was a whole lot different from today. Should we ignore history, or learn from it?

There are plenty of historical coming of age stories to choose from ...
Native Son
Invisible Man
Eyes Watching God
Roots even

If this one makes people uncomfortable, just choose one of the many others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1. Our school dumped Macbeth for The Bluest Eye. Just silly.

“Silly”? You’re the first person I’ve heard to use that word about the Bluest Eye, or any of Toni Morrison’s books. Have you actually read it?

I did read it. And its fine at best. But it is not Macbeth. It is not even Beloved. So just silly stands. Just because a book provides a diverse view point does not make it a classic and it is an overall loss for the school to pretend that it does.

Good grief. A book can be good and not be Macbeth. Do you compare everything to Shakespeare?

I think we can read all types of books. Yes this considered a classic. I think we are acting as if Poc cant handle it which to me is insulting. Have everyone read Toni Morrison but dont cancel to kill a mockingbird.