This country is becoming more and more Facscist every day. Even the thought of changing a legendary’s author work to appease a few people is appauling to me. I’ve got a pretty simple solution, if anybody is offended with the language in the novel, then don’t read it. I’m horribly offended at the whole Twilight saga for crapping all over the vampire franchise, but I’m not going on a campaign to change the story. I simply choose not to watch them.

 

So you're OK with letting a student "opt out?"

Out of curiosity when was everyone else taught Huck Finn in class? I had read it before, but it wasn't an actual book used in class until my freshman year of high school.

Eminem uses language just like his characters would use them. You want that used in 7th or 8th grade English when studying poetry?

 

While I appreciate Eminem's music, from a personal standpoint, I do not consider what he does to be poetry, any more than any other musician. However, I do see how some would consider him to be a poet. To me a poetry class should focus on Whitman, Frost, Poe, etc.

 

That being said, I do not feel that Huckleberry Finn is a novel that should be disregarding. In the words of Ernest Hemmingway, "All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called 'Huckleberry Finn.' All American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since." To me the study of this novel is essential to any American Literature class.

 

But to answer your point, if a teacher feels that they must study Eminem as part of a poetry class, than yes, the lyrics should be presented just as they were written by the author. It is rather naive to think that the majority of these kids don't use these words amongst themselves outside of the classroom.

Out of curiosity when was everyone else taught Huck Finn in class? I had read it before, but it wasn't an actual book used in class until my freshman year of high school.

 

Huckleberry Finn was first presented as part of my American Literature class my Sophmore year in high school. I guess that I probably first read it on my own around 3rd or 4th grade.

I strongly DO NOT believe we should censor rap or Mark Twain or anything else!! How does the government draw the line once they start? That is my real question behind the question.

 

The government has nothing to do with this. It is a private publisher that wishes to release a version of the book with that particular word removed. The original text of Huckleberry Finn, to my knowledge, is now public domain. School districts that want to teach the original version will have more than enough published versions of the text available for that purpose.

If I show "Remember The Titans" in my classroom to show integration and how teams can bring people and communities together, should censor every "offensive" word in it?

So you're OK with letting a student "opt out?"

 

No, used for education purposes it would defeat the whole purpose and rob the children of a valuable lesson to censor it. I don't recall the children being the people involved who wanted to censor the book. They probably don't have that fascist mindset at that age.

If I show "Remember The Titans" in my classroom to show integration and how teams can bring people and communities together, should censor every "offensive" word in it?

 

What grade?

No, used for education purposes it would defeat the whole purpose and rob the children of a valuable lesson to censor it. I don't recall the children being the people involved who wanted to censor the book. They probably don't have that fascist mindset at that age.

 

You have no ideas what "fascist" means.

I've got an idea, I know how we can solve this whole issue. Let's just take every classical piece of literature ever created and take out all the offensive material. Anything that any person or group finds offensive, let's just take it out completely or re write it so satisfy the masses. Only problem is when you re write it, someone else will probably find it offensive, so it may just be a good idea to do away with books and movies altogether. That way we can all live peacefully in a utopian society free of drugs, war, pestilence and famine. I think I've got it figured out. Now we'll all be happy!!!

You have no ideas what "fascist" means.

 

Well thank God some people do. Either way I've solved the problem for everyone.

But to answer your point, if a teacher feels that they must study Eminem as part of a poetry class, than yes, the lyrics should be presented just as they were written by the author. It is rather naive to think that the majority of these kids don't use these words amongst themselves outside of the classroom.

 

...and what % of parents do you think would be pounding on the principal's door demanding the teacher be fired?

I've got an idea, I know how we can solve this whole issue. Let's just take every classical piece of literature ever created and take out all the offensive material. Anything that any person or group finds offensive, let's just take it out completely or re write it so satisfy the masses. Only problem is when you re write it, someone else will probably find it offensive, so it may just be a good idea to do away with books and movies altogether. That way we can all live peacefully in a utopian society free of drugs, war, pestilence and famine. I think I've got it figured out. Now we'll all be happy!!!

 

Are you deliberately missing the point or is it just that difficult to follow?

 

The issue isn't simply offensive language in a classic.

 

The issue is "age appropriate" language used when teaching a lesson.

...and what % of parents do you think would be pounding on the principal's door demanding the teacher be fired?

 

>>>>

Are you deliberately missing the point or is it just that difficult to follow?

 

The issue isn't simply offensive language in a classic.

 

The issue is "age appropriate" language used when teaching a lesson.

 

Uhhhh, well wait until they get older to read it. Was it that difficult?