Huck Finn teaching method hurts, isolates Richland High School student

chretienne, says:

A book offended someone! Bad book! Bad book! Let's ban it.

Scott, says:

That's not "the exact point of the story"? It's kind of the point I get out of lines such as these:

"Ibrahim's mother wants the book banned. A group calling itself 'The Coalition to Stop the N-Word' met with the Birdville ISD superintendent on Wednesday, seeking a written apology for the family and sensitivity training for teachers.... Thomas Muhammad, a spokesman for the coalition, said Wednesday that the group wants the book banned because it is representing the family's wishes. ... Ibrahim has been assigned to another English class at Richland High School. His mother still wants the book banned. She said she's never read the entire book and doesn't intend to."

Scott, says:

Alex,

The opening paragraphs/sentences you mention set out the facts underlying the controversy, followed by the remaining two-thirds of the article which discusses the effort of Mohamed's mother and the "Coalition to Stop the N-word" (minus DISD's Ron Price) to have the book banned, similar efforts elsewhere to have the book banned, pedagogical approaches that might reduce calls for bans on Twain, etc.

Scott, says:

Right, Alex. Two-thirds of the article is "ancillary" to the the "central [albeit it briefly discussed] conceit" of a kid being offended by a word on a chalkboard. Because *that's* the big news--a kid being offended. Not the effort of certain activisits to ban an American classic from the school's curriculum. The author was clearly lacking focus when she spent the bulk of the article discussing the effort to ban the book, prior efforts to ban the book elsewhere, academic reactions to that effort, etc. She just kind of went off the rails. Lack of editorial oversight, perhaps. That whole "book banning" business should've been restricted to a brief aside or passing parenthetical. Then the author's true intent, which you've so cleverly discerned, would have been more manifest.

kirk, says:

I think we ought to get back to the central theme of the Iraq story, too: Saddam Hussein was building weapons of mass destruction.

While we're at it, let's abridge Moby Dick so that it's all about the whale. The rest of the book is ancillary to the "central conceit."

Scott, says:

Your persistence is impressive, in a way, Alex.

kirk, says:

I think where you have veered off course, Alex, is in discerning the real story. An offended individual -- be it a 17-year-old student or a reporter defending his own position -- is hardly the real story, when a move is launched to ban a book under any pretense. And repeating your analysis of what Laurie Fox really meant to report won't change that. By the way, you may want to refrain from lecturing your readers about journalistic principles, because more than a few of them are very well versed in what constitutes a lede and how the inverted pyramid works.

JackLaw, says:

The rhetoric goes on and on. I'll bet: a. the teacher is young and inexperienced b. a conversation between the mom and the teacher could have resolved the issue c. mom wants more than an apology d. the author is editorializing way beyond (who, what, when, where, why). My evidence for this is her statement, "make that WAY outside." Really? How about some facts to support that opinion? e. this conflict will eventually be resolved, but not in this century, or the next.

doopadoo, says:

Perceptions will only change when we announce our intent to burn all printed and recorded media containing the "n" word. What's that you say...the rappers won't be able to sell any music if we do that? Yes, then perceptions will change. No "n" word...no money. No money you say? I give it a week and use of the "n" word won't seem like such a big problem anymore.

P.S. I was forced to use the term "n-word" (as opposed to spelling the word) by Pegusus censorship. I received the following propmt when posting: "Watch your mouth! The word "n----r" is not allowed here." One agin..the only people who seem to be able to use it are those who seem to be the most offended. GIVE ME A BREAK!