Thread: Exposing Students to Controversial Writings
View Single Post
Old 01-15-2017   #2
Mr. Veech's Avatar
Mr. Veech
Grimscribe
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 941
Quotes: 0
Points: 22,558, Level: 100 Points: 22,558, Level: 100 Points: 22,558, Level: 100
Level up: 0% Level up: 0% Level up: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Re: Exposing Students to Controversial Writings
Quote Originally Posted by Nirvana In Karma View Post
Controversial short story gets Sarasota substitute teacher banned - News - Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota, FL

Thoughts?

I agree with her ideas about literature, but also feel that she was pretty irresponsible for deviating from the lesson plan.

I suppose this thread could be about controversial writings in a school setting in general.
I thought it was clearly irresponsible. As someone who has substituted in the past for a private Christian academy, you never, never replace the teacher's lesson plans with your own. I would love to introduce bright students to writers such as Lovecraft and Ligotti, but I wouldn't be able to do so in good conscience. If I were teaching full-time at the moment, then I might deal with students individually; I could then introduce controversial subject matter to specific students whose minds are more developed.

There were times when I could mention something regarding Machen or Hawthorne (for instance), but that was after the students finished their assignments.
"In a less scientific age, he would have been a devil-worshipper, a partaker in the abominations of the Black Mass; or would have given himself to the study and practice of sorcery. His was a religious soul that had failed to find good in the scheme of things; and lacking it, was impelled to make of evil itself an object of secret reverence."

~ Clark Ashton Smith, "The Devotee of Evil"
Mr. Veech is offline   Reply With Quote
4 Thanks From:
DarkView (01-15-2017), miguel1984 (01-15-2017), Nirvana In Karma (01-15-2017), ToALonelyPeace (01-19-2017)