Books I'd assign if I were a high-school English teacher
Submitted by jenhowel on Tue, 02/20/2001 - 10:00
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- The Catcher in the Rye and Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger (we got A Separate Peace instead)
- Maurice by E.M. Forster (to teach some modicum of respect for homosexuality. Also it's one of Forster's two best)
- A Passage to India by E.M. Forster (his other best)
- "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare (gorgeous lyricism, theme of forgiveness)also "Macbeth" "Hamlet"
- On the Road by Jack Kerouac (feelings kids can relate to)
- The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (ditto)
- The Pill Versus the Spring Hill Mining Disaster by Richard Brautigan (to make poetry enjoyable again)
- The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (the man can really write characters, and it encourages you to really live your life)
- And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts (necessary reading to understand the AIDS crisis, compelling.)
- Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh (a great contemporary novel that is actually anti-drug in its result)
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (not just a kid's book, so people would get more than the bastardized Disney version)
- The Color Purple by Alice Walker
- 1984 (not Brave New World)
- The Gilgamesh Epic (short, interesting and delivers universal themes about search for immortality)
- H.P. Lovecraft stories - Because they're good and good horror/sci-fi/fantasy literature
- Something by Jane Austen so people could see she's not boring!
- and one I'd assign if I were a philosophy/humanities or possibly a science teacher:
- Animal Liberation by Peter Singer (so at least kids could have a choice about whether they want to continue exploiting animals for petty reasons.)
Why 1984 over BNW? I recently read 1984 and read BNW in high school. I liked both, but from what I remember of BNW, it seemed, in some ways, to deal with issues that will become more important to society in the near future. Screening based on genes will become very real soon. I was just interested in your thoughts. I've been meaning to reread BNW sometime soon.
I don't have anything against BNW, in fact I agree that the issues it deals with are very topical. But as far as English class goes, I think (a) the writing in 1984 is better (b) the problems seem more urgent. In my high school I recall students not really getting the point and thinking it sounded "cool". I think BNW is best read in history or philosophy classes. In fact at my college a professor assigned BNW alongside Plato's Republic. The two mirror each other wonderfully, and complement each other. It was the first time I had really enjoyed either work. So if you're planning a re-read keep The Republic in mind.
Thanks for the reply. I will keep in mind reading the Republic. I think you are right about 1984 being more urgent, or at least more chilling. My officemate is from Russia and, until talking to him, I hadn't realized how close to reality something like 1984 was, but the way he describes some aspects of life under the Soviet Union are very similar to 1984. I think that talking to him gave 1984 a much stronger voice for me.
a few little things:
which of forster's other novels do you think is best?
i agree wholeheartedly with the tempest; i haven't actually read it in a class, but the teen center in our town performed it the summer after my senior year, and i enjoyed it *much* better than almost anything else we read... (course, that could've had to do with the performance aspect, but yeah.... <g>)
*love* and the band played on. have you seen the movie?
Of those I've read, I think they're great choices. We did read "Catcher in the Rye" in high school, and it is perfect. I would also keep some other books that we read, including "The Diary of Anne Frank" , "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "The Crucible" because in addition to being well-written and enjoyable, they provide historical discussion material. (Of course, I truly believe that History and Literature should be one course and Writing a separate one, but I digress..."
What is also interesting to me is that in the real world, a lot of these well written and valid books have or would come up against parental or community protest, especially "The Color Purple," "Maurice",and "Trainspotting." I believe many of this objections would be misguided In fact many places can no longer teach "The Crucible," because it is about witches!, even though the theme of the play is ironically about people being persecuted falsely and the frenzy that a few people can stir up in a community against people that are differant or strange in some way.
I unfortunately would need to agree with Nadine, You would not last long as a High School English Teacher. You would end up in front of the school committe trying to explain the justification of teaching some of these books. What a pitiful thought that really is....Its been some time since I was in High School but it still galls me in how schools, parents and politicians underestimate the intelligence and understanding of teenagers. Its Ok for them to see the glorification of Sex and Drugs in the Music and TV shows they watch but it is inappropriate for them to read 200 plus pages of beautiful writing that most often give a well rounded view on subjects thats are and should be important to them.
Rant Over
Being, new to this world of yours, I cannot agree if you (IBANGS) would be a good High School English Teacher, but I do agree with the response from Rang Over, it galls me in how schools, parents and politicians underestimate the intelligence and understanding of teenagers. And allows for them to watch the glorification of Sex and Drugs in the Music and TV shows. But it is inappropriate for them to read 200 plus pages of beautiful writing that most often give a well rounded view on subjects thats are and should be important to them.
Sorry, Davlin, but were you referring to me, L. Bangs?
I've yet to comment on this subject. Did you mean jgandcag?
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs (who is not a English teacher, but is married to a college-level English teacher...)
Sory for that name drop, I was reading a post of yours earlier and I didn't look ahead to who's name I was posting this to, and your name came up first. Won't happen again.
Don't worry; I was only a bit confused.
Welcome on board!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
jenhowel - I am new to your world so don't take this as an insult, your choices of reading are very good selections, but not high school reading
material, this country does not want more open minded people, but the open minded people to find their own open minds, this selection of reading material can cause the closed little shells to break open before they are molded properly, to advance the little ones we must close the world to the older ones, allowing the little ones to see that they cannot take on the big brother(s) and win, say as I do, and not do as I say. Rules are rules, be the fool that follows the rule, step on the ones who try to break the mold.
I like the way you people are talking keep it real.
THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING TRAINSPOTTING.PEOPLE DO NOT GIVE THAT BOOK THE CREDIT IT DESERVES