The Importance of Respect in the Classroom

With all of the culturally charged literature we've been reading lately, I thought it would be a good idea to talk about how it is important to develop a respectful air in the classroom, especially with this type of content. 

One way to be respectful of the culture represented through the language of these texts is to find official recordings of readings. That way, students will be able to hear an accurate representation of that dialect or the language being used. 

For example, this clip from Song of the South could be used with stories from Uncle Remus, His Songs and Sayings which also allows us to analyze the original text along with the film representation of it.

Another approach to promoting respect is explaining the context of the text that is read. I think this really helps students grasp the culture of the time period and understand the reason for the style or language that is used.

In the case of Huck Finn and the use of the "n" word, whether or not it is spoken while quoting or discussing the text will have to depend on the maturity of students in the class. Not all students will be able to handle the use of that word with the respect it demands. However, because it is a representation of the cultural language of the time period, it would be an injustice to purchase censored books and require the immature student to read that version as opposed to the original text. It robs those students of an accurate experience with the time period and culture. If we deny them this, we deny them the opportunity to observe how culture and language changes over time.

I appreciate the way Dr. Campbell encourages engagement by asking for student voices to read and I think she approached the matter of being respectful appropriately by asking us not to try reading in any funny accents or voices but instead to paraphrase what we read. I also appreciate that she didn't force only one student to read it and struggle alone by not silencing the other students who attempted to help in translating. I know that, at least for the portion of the story I read, it was rather difficult in some parts and I felt comfortable enough to stumble while others filled in my blanks.

I think one of the best ways to introduce this atmosphere of respect is through the use of student's home language through a narrative poem or short story. This can help students relate to the different dialects, slang, or culture of these old stories because every student will have different cultural home life experiences. Before starting on these texts, I would have students share their personal experiences with the class so we can observe the spectrum of cultures and perspectives represented in our classroom. I plan to do many other activities like this that build a strong sense of connection and understanding among my students throughout the school year. I believe these elements greatly influence the amount of respect in the classroom because the more students understand and connect to each other, the more they will respect each other.

Teaching "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"

        In class today we discussed why many of us were not excited by the prospect of rereading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Some spoke of flat out not liking the book, others spoke of bad experiences, and many articulated the point that the book has simply been over done. We have been talking about this book for years and years, and we have simply lost any sense of fascination that perhaps it once, or never sparked. I agreed that I hadn’t been very excited in rereading the book, not because I don’t think it doesn’t have value, or that I can’t learn more from it, but because it has been overdone in many of my classes. I have read multiple articles on it, written multiple essays on its themes, and included it as supporting evidence for many other writings in my classes. I felt I understood the book, the themes, and why it was important, and it for some reason wasn’t as intriguing anymore. This made me begin to think if I would or wouldn’t teach this book in high school.

When reading the book in high school, I enjoyed it well enough. However, I do think it is a hard book to teach simply because it’s hard for most high school students to relate to. Most students can’t identify with a teenage boy who just learned to write, who lives in a house that owns a slave. They can’t imagine ever being put in that type of situation, only because nowadays it wouldn’t even be a possibility. We are encouraged in America to not see color, so it is hard to promote a discussion on racial problems with high school students who aren’t used to talking about it, and also equally hard to make sure no one is hurt or uncomfortable because of any of the discussions.

A large part of me says it is important that the book is taught, because it gives a depiction of what America used to be, same with To Kill a Mockingbird. It also is depicted as a classic, and is mentioned in numerous works. I think because it is so prevalent in other writings it makes a student well rounded to have knowledge on the book. However, I was also curious what the book has to offer a student. So I looked up the essays I wrote to try and see what I got out of the book my first time reading it, and I was actually presently surprised.  From simply rereading the book it is easy to identify themes of friendship, abuse, racism, rebellion against adults, etc. However, I really liked the point I made in my essay in high school, that didn’t even pop into my head when we were discussing the book. A large problem that people have with the book is the way Jim, the only main black character in the book, is depicted. He is illiterate, superstitious and not portrayed as person of much intelligence. For this, the book is criticized, because it paints the only African American in the novel as not being smart. In my paper, I argued that Mark Twain actually made Jim the most sincere and likable character in the book. Throughout the book, Twain continually points out the flaws in every social group and family. He criticizes he hypocritical religious values of Miss Watson and Widow Douglass. He shows the ugliness of Huckleberry’s abusive father. He points out the scheming and unethical ways of the duke and dauphin. He mocks the family honor that the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons have placed upon themselves that leads to a spree of never ending deaths. And in the end, he mocks the childhood excuses of Tom and Huckleberry, who are willing to sacrifice potentially the life of Jim in order to have an adventure. In the end, only Jim is left with his morals. He is the only character who never betrays his friends, or tries to harm them.

I think this book does have a lot to give that can expand a student’s thoughts and give them a better understanding of humanity.