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WhiskeyGrinder

(26,962 posts)

60. The issue is when works are written for a certain audience or in a certain time and then taught

Reply to Klaralven (Reply #38)

Wed Jun 2, 2021, 01:04 PM

Jun 2021

uncritically, which is often what happens with TKAM.

Why are we spending instructional hours on imaginary stuff?

Because telling stories is one of the most human things we can do, and is one of the best ways to learn about each other. It's hard to teach well, though.

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Banning CRT: Does this mean "To Kill a Mockingbird" is out? [View all] MissMillie Jun 2021 OP

I had to Google it. Critical Race Theory. CurtEastPoint Jun 2021 #1

I apologize. I thought I saw it here before.(n/t) MissMillie Jun 2021 #2

No worry. Not enough coffee and my old IT brain said "Cathode Ray Tube." CurtEastPoint Jun 2021 #4

I thought "can't read that" berniesandersmittens Jun 2021 #8

To Kill a Mockingbird has a lot of problems. Cuthbert Allgood Jun 2021 #3

I think that's a fair assessment MissMillie Jun 2021 #7

My experience was similar growing up... Wounded Bear Jun 2021 #23

This. WhiskeyGrinder Jun 2021 #9

Absolutely agree snpsmom Jun 2021 #11

Oh my god. Seriously? Goodheart Jun 2021 #12

It's a beloved book. But if we're going to teach the book in schools, it's important to tease WhiskeyGrinder Jun 2021 #21

Sorry, but I had to chuckle at some of those contortions. Goodheart Jun 2021 #24

It's also inaccurate, as Atticus Finch himself is a bigot. WhiskeyGrinder Jun 2021 #27

Atticus Finch is a fictional character. shrike3 Jun 2021 #43

And that character is a bigot. Cuthbert Allgood Jun 2021 #49

Many white. Americans are that crass and stupid StarfishSaver Jun 2021 #33

Baloney Goodheart Jun 2021 #53

77m mostly white people voted for most purposefully malignant racist president since Andrew Johnson uponit7771 Jun 2021 #64

But not ALL white people, so shame on you for mentioning it StarfishSaver Jun 2021 #87

As are many people of all races. Treefrog Jun 2021 #73

It was written by a white author for a white book-buying public, so that seems appropriate Klaralven Jun 2021 #35

If it's for a white audience, should it be used in a universal curriculum? WhiskeyGrinder Jun 2021 #36

Yes, just as works by black authors writing for black audiences -unless you want separate but equal? Klaralven Jun 2021 #38

Maybe because reading fiction makes people better able to empathize with others? PoindexterOglethorpe Jun 2021 #45

Essays and biographies can do that as well with more realism. Klaralven Jun 2021 #47

I believe research has shown that reading fiction is the best at that. PoindexterOglethorpe Jun 2021 #72

You're absolutely correct. n/t snpsmom Jun 2021 #78

The issue is when works are written for a certain audience or in a certain time and then taught WhiskeyGrinder Jun 2021 #60

Are you honestly arguing that we shouldn't teach fiction? Cuthbert Allgood Jun 2021 #66

If we're going to teach it, teach current fiction that would be interesting to the students. Klaralven Jun 2021 #77

Let's make our children dolts. /nt tonedevil Jun 2021 #90

There are a lot of problems with the white savior character. Cuthbert Allgood Jun 2021 #48

If Atticus Finch were black you'd need a new ending. Bob Ewell & the white townsfolk would lynch him Klaralven Jun 2021 #55

Yes, seriously snpsmom Jun 2021 #29

That's simply an astounding take. Goodheart Jun 2021 #52

You seem really invested in this argument n/t snpsmom Jun 2021 #61

But if the white author did that treestar Jun 2021 #81

Maybe snpsmom Jun 2021 #82

If she was writing about what she didn't know about or understand, readers would know it and that StarfishSaver Jun 2021 #85

You should probably read some essays by black authors about the white savior complex. Cuthbert Allgood Jun 2021 #41

Have you read Watchman? Cuthbert Allgood Jun 2021 #15

I am glad you are there to educate future generations ! luckone Jun 2021 #19

I envy you! snpsmom Jun 2021 #31

I am eager to hear more about your "Facing History" class. What else do you cover? CTyankee Jun 2021 #50

It's not a class (although that would be great) snpsmom Jun 2021 #63

There should be a module of the holocaust that can be used by teachers in middle school and up. CTyankee Jun 2021 #74

They do have Holocaust resources! n/t snpsmom Jun 2021 #79

Huckleberry Finn also cbabe Jun 2021 #62

I have taught Huck Finn a lot of years, too. And I agree on the problematic aspects. Cuthbert Allgood Jun 2021 #65

welcome to DU gopiscrap Jun 2021 #92

But, but, but.... TomSlick Jun 2021 #88

Who knows? snowybirdie Jun 2021 #5

+1 Sherman A1 Jun 2021 #6

Critical race theory is a way to talk about racism by examining how racial disparities and WhiskeyGrinder Jun 2021 #10

Thank you snowybirdie Jun 2021 #13

That's a pretty low fucking bar if we need MTG to understand it before we can use it. Cuthbert Allgood Jun 2021 #16

It impacts lives and societies because it helps people realize that systemic racism is not caused WhiskeyGrinder Jun 2021 #17

Excellent explanarion StarfishSaver Jun 2021 #34

That's correct. Who would know how to teach such vagueness in the first place? Goodheart Jun 2021 #14

Plenty of people understand how to use it in their teaching. Cuthbert Allgood Jun 2021 #18

I think that's a bit biased and hyperbolic. Goodheart Jun 2021 #22

CRT is not something that's "taught," despite what you might understand from Republican rhetoric. WhiskeyGrinder Jun 2021 #25

And there you go... you have a clear dispute with Cuthbert Allgood Goodheart Jun 2021 #26

No, there's no dispute there. Cuthbert Allgood Jun 2021 #28

Not sure why you're trying to pit us against each other, but okay. WhiskeyGrinder Jun 2021 #30

Yeah, seems like an attempt to deflect. Cuthbert Allgood Jun 2021 #32

Yep. You were clear. WhiskeyGrinder Jun 2021 #37

:) This thread has some good discussion, and thanks. Hortensis Jun 2021 #44

I'm not trying to pit you against each other. Goodheart Jun 2021 #54

It's not an inconsistency. Cuthbert Allgood Jun 2021 #67

Who are "they"? What is incomprehensible? luckone Jun 2021 #20

They seem to be MAGA folks snowybirdie Jun 2021 #42

Actually, CRT enthusiasts are more likely to attack TKAM for "white saviorism" nt Azathoth Jun 2021 #39

Well it survived the Me Too era (Barely) cinematicdiversions Jun 2021 #40

There have been discussions about the appropriateness of the novel Cuthbert Allgood Jun 2021 #46

When I first saw the topic I got nervous Polybius Jun 2021 #51

Heavy, hard on the eyes, and gives off dangerous emissions Klaralven Jun 2021 #56

But CRT TV's are great for retro gaming, and still have the best depth and perfect color blacks Polybius Jun 2021 #57

Wasn't TKM canceled years ago by early wokists? BannonsLiver Jun 2021 #58

TKM was to white supporters of civil rights as Uncle Tom's Cabin was to abolitionists Klaralven Jun 2021 #59

... a starting point to getting people off the couch and into the debate? apnu Jun 2021 #69

As emotional predicates for adopting political positions. Klaralven Jun 2021 #76

So you have no problems with the book? Cuthbert Allgood Jun 2021 #68

My problem with the book was that they treated the black characters paternalistically ... marble falls Jun 2021 #71

Thanks - that was a nice compact list of whom... electric_blue68 Jun 2021 #75

Rita Dove was a friend and classmate in high school. Wonderful poet. I really mean wonderful. marble falls Jun 2021 #89

This is not uncommon in art and literature StarfishSaver Jun 2021 #86

I think that's true. I think a lot of it is about if there were few black main charaters, there ... marble falls Jun 2021 #91

It is an important piece of literature. PoindexterOglethorpe Jun 2021 #70

You know, snpsmom Jun 2021 #80

"Anyone who reads it or teaches it can ground it in the era in which it was written and published." WhiskeyGrinder Jun 2021 #83

That's what educators are trying to do StarfishSaver Jun 2021 #84