* This is a partial entry of a longer one that was originally published Wednesday night November 12. It is my reaction (see the disclaimer at the bottom) to the apparent banning of "Kaffir Boy" despite the book committee's recommendation to keep it in the curriculum.
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Well, apparently the presentation to the school board didn’t go over well. Several ignorant members of the public vehemently spoke out against the book.
One claimed that it was outright pornography and that we’d be guilty of sexual harassment if we taught it.
Another claimed that she wanted the page printed in the paper to show the public how pornographic it was.
Yet, another claimed that when she was a professor, she diligently read everything before exposing students to it. And that since we were just ‘teachers’ as opposed to college professors what do we know anyway?
And another moron questioned the book’s title, Kaffir Boy, “Kaffir” is defined as an insulting and contemptuous term for a black African. He stated that since we have several African Americans who attend our public school, they would be offended. Stupidity like this is difficult to deal with. The moron needs to realize that an African American wrote the book and choose that title as a way of illuminating the horrors of apartheid in South Africa.
I often wonder if this moron is not the same man – or at least related to – the school board member who, according to a former teacher here, questioned the need for reading books. He claimed that the students could read the science and math books instead of novels and anthologies.
Is there a way to combat such stupidity?
It also seems that it was our opposition’s goal to assemble what they considered to be the most influential and powerful people in the community to rail against the book.
And the best of all, one of our administrators manned up and admitted to the board and that he wanted it on public record that he did not support the book nor did he think it was appropriate for school.
Way to support your staff.
Way to trust your teachers professional judgment.
I have no problem with him disagreeing with the book, but did he have to do it in such a fashion that it not only undermined but humiliated all teachers?
Needless to say, you can rail against this book, which is an easy target, but what gets done with a kid who has a swastika on his jacket? Or an athlete who exposes himself to an elementary school kid? Or another athlete who states that he wishes he could kill a teacher? Or another who states that he wants to kill the AD?
Yet, God forbid, let’s go balls out to ban this book.
The most disgusting thing is that this could have been totally avoided by simply allowing the parent’s original letter, in which she stated that she wanted the abridged version of the book taught, to make its way to the teachers.
But instead it never made it to them, apparently never making it beyond administration. Apparently, they decided to become curriculum coordinator and decide what can and can’t be taught in class for all students.
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Another asinine claim by some members of the public, which gives some creedance to the saying “the masses are asses,” that the part should be read aloud at the meeting, rather than read in its full context, and then published in the paper.
Here are some samples of out-of-context excerpts from some of the most beloved books in our curriculum (am I setting myself up to get them banned now?)
“Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for”
“I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella!”
“In front of us, those flames. In the air, the smell of burning flesh. It must have been around midnight. We had arrived. In Birkenau.”
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I don’t know if people are tuning in to read about the Kaffir Boy controversy, to see pics of our gorgeous little girl, or to read my witty writing, but readership sure has gone up. I have over 300 logons since I last checked.
All those new readers are invited to leave feedback. Fellow Teacher did, but they have been silent since.
And a reminder – these are just my opinions. If you don’t want to leave feedback to express your opinions, start your own blog. Otherwise, enjoy.
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