Why Teachers Assign Books 101
Why Teachers Assign Books 101
It’s not news that being a school employee or on a school board is the most thankless thing ever these days. (No thank you x 1 million.) And of course the most contentious topics are 1) masks and 2) critical race theory — which, by the way, is not taught in grammar or middle or high school. An examination of race in America, even if one thinks an educator “leans a certain way,” does not equal CRT. This article in the NYT is titled “Venom of Political and Culture Battles Seeps Into the School Hallways.”
Anyway, selections for English/literature classes are a popular target. Here’s an excerpt from this article about The Hate U Give, the wildly popular novel by Angie Thomas. First, this is HIGH SCHOOL. If you are concerned about what your almost-adult children are reading, you really need to back off. Second, the point of reading certain texts in English classes is multi-faceted. A reading might be assigned to: illuminate a certain writing style, demonstrate a different culture or way of life, expose students to a prolific writer, AND/OR provide context for *why* a certain work is so relevant. Having kids read The Hate U Give isn’t intended to “indoctrinate” them. However, it’s a perfect work to assign young adults who are coming of age in an era when this book reflects what they’re seeing in the news and social media day in and day out.
When I was in college, I had to read “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” an 18th-century sermon by Jonathan Edwards. We studied it, of course, because it was reflective of the prominent theology of the Great Awakening. And c’mon, this was at Tufts University, a “liberal” institution. Following these parents’ logic trains, one would think that Professor Cavitch was trying to indoctrinate us and scare us into thinking that we could go to hell at any minute?
I am soooo not a fan of censoring what kids read. (I mean, yes, maybe under a certain age if they’re reaching for something *wildly* inappropriate.) But reading a book is one of the safest ways kids can explore the world.
These parents are ridiculous and need to go back to school. #ReadingIsRelevant
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