Week 5 - Webb Ch. 6

Chapter Six - Huckleberry Finn and the Issue of Race in Today's Classroom

In Webb's discussion of teaching Huckleberry Finn he mentions that there were disagreements over teaching the texts. Black students felt like their options didn't matter, their parents decided that the white English teachers ignored their concerns. White students were upset they wouldn't be able to finish the book, black students felt friendships with white students were in jeopardy.

Basically "parents were angry with teachers, teachers felt threatened and misunderstood, administrators went in various directions but failed to follow policies already in place, and student were alienated from the school and from one another." (108)

I see great benefit in teaching controversial texts. But there has to be a better way to handle it. I think a letter should be sent home to parents explaining your purpose for teaching the text. Allow them to ask questions and express concerns, and address them all in turn. It is important to make parents and students feel their opinions are valued. If there is too much disagreement suggest the use of another text.

I was taught Huckleberry Finn in 9th grade. It was required summer reading. I hated it. I found the novel hard to understand, and boring since I had no direction. I was taught the more cannon model - "you will read this text because it is a classic and important". Plot, character, setting, etc. is not the way to teach this text. It is important for student to be able to express their opinions on this text and be guided through it with a more critical eye.