W
wade
Guest
Gem said:I think that many of you have missed the teachers point entirely.
The message she was trying to get across was why destroying a book is important. She was teaching a novel about the destruction of literature, of ideas...of freedom of thought.
In our world where information is so readily available via books, magazines, newspapers, television, and the internet...it can be damn near impossible for the youth today to comprehend the absolute destruction of an idea.
Burn a copy of "Alice in Wonderland..." The kids could think, "So what? I can buy 100 copies of it on Amazon.com...I can watch the movie...I can go online and read 800 book reviews about it..."
Burn, or tear up a copy of the Bible...and the kids sit forward...they rub the sleepy apathy from their eyes and say:
"hey...wait a minute...you can do that...hey, that bothers me deep inside in a way I might find difficult to talk about...but it sure as hell makes an impression...I DON'T WANT YOU TO DESTROY THAT BOOK....I DON'T WANT YOU TO MESS WITH THAT BOOK BECAUSE THE IDEAS IN IT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME."
THAT was the message she was trying to get across...that destroying a book IS IMPORTANT and can be a horrific, emotional thing.
Her point is proven perfectly by your reactions on this site....but that was her point...she woke her kids up....she bothered them...she took them out of their comfort zone...SHE TAUGHT THEM!!!!
"Farenheit 451" is a book that students should read...should absorb...but in today's society it is hard to get kids to approach an older book with enthusiasm (I'm a teacher, I know). What this teacher did was present her students with a very visceral reason to read the book...and a framework for how to think about the ideas within it. "Were you bothered by my destruction of the Bible??? If so, then examine how some of the characters might feel...examine why the destruction of literature matters...."
The fact that you are upset proves that the book is still a vital piece of literature...the fact that she chose to wake her students up in an interesting and controversial way is a sign that she is a great teacher. Its a shame she has to be put through the ringer like this.
Very well stated. You people should try to see that in a way this teacher was actually reinforcing the sanctity of the Bible by destroying it. You are missing the message entirely. It was a good lesson and you are fools if you do not see this.
Wade