|
You're Not Allowed to
Read That Text!
Censorship is in the news this
week -- from the accusation of "absolute vile and gratuitous sexual premises"
in the books targeted in the Fayetteville, Arkansas high school library
to the
a profane word in the title of a poem in a Seattle, Washington high school
literary
magazine. In situations like these, the true issue is the power of language
and the control of who is allowed to use it. The following resources
provide teaching ideas and resources for discussing such issues in the
classroom.
Chris Crutcher's "In Defense of Bad
Language" (G) from Voices from the Middle urges administrators
and teachers concerned about "bad" language to just "Get
over
it," and argues that we accept authentic language as a matter of respect.
One important way to build respect for the language and situations presented
in a text is to work toward both an understanding
of the power of books and the reader’s ability to understand those texts.
The English Journal article "In Defense of Harry . . . But Not His Defenders: Beyond Censorship
to
Justice" (M-S) argues
the need for "alternative voices and worldviews" in the classroom,
whether students are reading the latest Harry Potter novel or another controversial
book.
Calls for censorship frequently communicate the tensions between differing cultural
and philosophical perspectives. "When Values Clash: Learning from Controversy"
(E-M) from Language Arts and
"Outside Teachers: Children’s Literature and Cultural Tension"
(E-M) from English Leadership Quarterly explore how such conflicts can
become opportunities for communities to
help students become literate, socially responsible, culturally aware, and contributing
citizens.
Even the censorship of visual communication is an issue of the power of the text.
The College
English article
"Deflecting
the
Political
in
the
Visual
Images of
Execution
and
the
Death
Penalty
Debate" (C) explores
the visual images that readers are and are not allowed to view and asserts that
"the attempt to suppress the visual, as in any censorship
of the press, is an attempt to limit debate."
Start getting ready now to discuss Banned Books Week this Fall. For resources,
visit the American
Library Association's resources for posters, book lists, and answers
to frequently asked questions.
For advice, rationales, and other help with challenges to literary works,
films and videos, drama
productions,
or teaching methods, visit the NCTE
Anti-Censorship Center.
NOTE: Free access to journal articles mentioned in this Inbox is provided
for 21 days. After this free access period expires, articles are available
to journal subscribers only. This Inbox Idea was published 02-15-2005.
Initials in annotations indicate academic level of the resource (E=Elementary,
M=Middle, S=Secondary, C=College, G=General).
|
