Call to remove Of Mice and Men from GCSE course - Lit@Beehaw
Call to remove Of Mice and Men from GCSE course - Lit@Beehaw
You're viewing a single thread.
Link won't work for me. I'm curious about this, why? From what little I remember it is a really great book. The rabbits George.
Contains racial slurs which are a realistic portrayal of how people would talk at the time it is set, but which are difficult for the students to hear repeated in a classroom setting, regardless of context
Theres only so much you can coddle students though, before its just a bit silly
I'd agree with that. It's probably a positive thing for children to be exposed to that sort of language in a controlled environment where the teacher can explain historical context. It's not like they'll be avoid racial slurs forever
Are you talking about white kids, or black kids though? I think the issue is that black kids unfortunately will hear that language anyway, as the targets of it, and that hearing it read out in the classroom is going to be a very different experience for them.
If they also studied a book that contained racist terms for white people, then it would be fair in that context.
However are there any racial slurs for white people that are as offensive as it is for black people? I don’t honestly think so.
Societies moving on, time to drop off mice and men from the syllabus and educate as to why it was removed in a different classroom setting.
Ya for sure I totally understand that. That's pretty much every book published before a certain date at this point, by today's standards. I don't know, I'm glad I'm not the one deciding these things lol.
As a black person the reading 'Of Mice and Men' nowadays probably is not an enjoyable experience. (I'm not black).
For her I'd imagine hearing certain words being read out in a white dominated class is an uncomfortable experience.
It was a classic way back then......but times have changed and it no longer deserves that accolade.
But the UK/US education system has always struggled with what makes a 'classic'. #Reading #Education #Classic