Can I Teach That?
Negotiating Taboo Language and Controversial Topics in the Language Arts Classroom
Edited by Suzanne Linder, Elizabeth Majerus
Publication date:
14 July 2016Length of book:
168 pagesPublisher
Rowman & Littlefield PublishersISBN-13: 9781475814767
Can I Teach That? Negotiating Taboo Language and Controversial Topics in the Language Arts Classroom is a collection of stories, strategies, advice, and documents collected for teachers who are using or plan to use materials or implement policies they know may be controversial. It is for any teacher dedicated to engaging their students in the complex, challenging, and rewarding activities of reading and writing, for any teacher committed to speaking honestly with students. For any teacher, period. Because when we decide to work with young people, when we commit to sharing books and ideas that engage their hearts and minds, when we strive to get adolescents to think critically and write honestly, we open ourselves up to suspicion and critique from someone, somewhere, no matter how above reproach we feel our materials and strategies are.
Few language arts teachers will experience a full-blown challenge to the content of their curriculum, but many may self-censor or suffer through awkward and challenging conversations with colleagues, administrators, parents, and other members of their community. This book is for those times when teachers are called on to defend and legitimize their use of controversial material in their classroom––material that they know reflects students’ reality, even as it makes adults uncomfortable and fearful about their inability to protect children from that very reality.
Few language arts teachers will experience a full-blown challenge to the content of their curriculum, but many may self-censor or suffer through awkward and challenging conversations with colleagues, administrators, parents, and other members of their community. This book is for those times when teachers are called on to defend and legitimize their use of controversial material in their classroom––material that they know reflects students’ reality, even as it makes adults uncomfortable and fearful about their inability to protect children from that very reality.
Editors Linder and Majerus and nine other educators demonstrate a beneficial critical learning process for teachers who address or plan to address controversial topics in their high school language arts programs. Can I Teach That? Negotiating Taboo Language and Controversial Topics in the Language Arts Classroom provides ten chapters plus four rich appendixes with sample assignments, a list of resources, and a material selection policy. Chapters offer a variety of examples and authentic stories that support the 2009 position statement ‘The Students' Right to Read’ from the National Council of Teachers of English and the 2014 companion statement, ‘NCTE Beliefs about Students’ Right to Write.’ The collection of essays in this case book challenge teachers to strive for meaningful texts that engage young adults to think critically and write honestly. High school students need to find their voices by refining their arguments in their writing. This book offers encouragement and empowerment to high school teachers for creating a learning environment that reflects the values and goals of the teaching profession by teaching ethically and honestly around students’ controversial texts.
Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergrads through practitioners.
Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergrads through practitioners.