Thoughts on Write and Wrong article by Anna Quindlen

I just read this article entitled Write and Wrong by Anna Quindlen in our copy of Newsweek.

As I read it.. I became outraged. For one, how long does it take for a "central office" to review a book? Based on the timeline it seems they had over two months to review. Secondly ANY teacher, especially a 27 year vet, who gets psyched to educate students, is worth their weight in gold.

So I started thinking back.... 20 years ago my Honors American History teacher sat on the edge of his desk on the first day of school and said "I don't care if any of you want to learn, I'm just here for my pension".... what is THAT teaching kids? Obviously that apathy had a lasting impression. In my Honors Economy class our teacher showed us the movie "The Gods Must Be Crazy" to demonstrate how Coca Cola had permeated itself in the far reaches of the world. So what? Did that inspire anyone?

At least Heermann was having her students READ the book and not just watch the movie adaptation. As far as the racial slur in literature...no one is banning that use of the word on the street and I've heard that slur being used as casually as "dude" in certain circles. Why is that acceptable? If words are used responsibly in the context of the story, tone and setting, so be it. Censorship has gotten out of control.

There may be other facets of the story we don't know, but anything that shakes ANY kid - at risk or not - into learning and opening their minds up to the possibility that they can shape their own destiny is valuable and necessary.

Incidentally, prior to this article I did not know this book existed. I only knew it was a movie and didn't see it cos well, I'm not a big Swank fan. Now that I know there's a book I will be reading it.