One problem that Mr. Allen posed to us recently was that the school board was challenging his teaching of Cathedral, because it supposedly relayed the message that marijuana and alcohol are fabulous tools that help you have epiphanies. He asked us to think about what argument we would pose to break down that claim. I thought this was an excellent assignment because it really make us not just think about the story, but why it was an important story to read. Unfortunately, we have not yet gotten to really discuss our responses in class, but I think it would be great to hear different perspectives on this issue.
His situation made me think about how much outside information really affects a person's decisions. As Mr. Allen said, a school board might ban a story from being read in school, but they can't sensor the fusillade of images of drugs, drinking and sex that bombards students from every other possible outlet. Throughout the media, these are very common themes, and the most popular shows on TV are usually based upon the big three taboos. So would a school board really think that by outlawing one short story, they are making a difference? And ironically enough, Cathedral doesn't even advocate the use of booze or pot, it merely mentions them as a fact of life for the character. Earlier this year, we read the Kite Runner, in which a character attempts suicide, another societal taboo. Should that book also be banned, because it might encourage students to do the same? If this argument was applied to every novel, short story, movie or play we learned about through school, we'd be left reading Winnie-the-Pooh and Little House on the Prairie until we're of voting age.
I also think Mr. Allen's question helped us notice that those "inappropriate" elements were not the important part of the story; it put them in context, in perspective. Sure, as soon as we read about Bub toking up, everyone chuckled and nudged each other, "Oh boy, reading about drugs in school". But by addressing these issues and putting the spotlight on them for a moment, Mr. Allen showed how they weren't really important to the overall message of the story.
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2 comments:
Jenna,
Your defense of Cathedral and its mention of drug and alcohol use was a great articulation of not only everything we discussed in class, but great points of your own as well. I definitely agree that we are exposed to a fusillade (good use of vocab!) of drug imagery, paraphanalia, etc in the media and in high school. It seems futile to worry about an old short story in English class. In fact, I tend to think that reading about drug and alcohol use in candid and educated ways actually helps teens decide to say no to drugs moreso than just not talking about it.
I also think that, in the end, the story casts a negative light, and rightly so, on drug and alcohol use. The narrator tells us how lonely he is at night, just smoking pot, drining boos, and watching TV. This affects his relationship with his wife, and even gives him crazy dreams. None of that really appeals to me, or should appeal to anybody.
Good job!
Daniel
Hey Jenna!
So I thought your blog was really good. First of all I liked how you stated the board’s argument and then how you were able to use valid points to show their misconception.
I agree with your claims as well. I think that teachers have the right to teach their students information that they think their students can handle. I learned a lot from this story, not only did I learn good short-story writing ideas, but I was also able to relate to Bub and I gained a lot through this reading experience.
Also I enjoyed your use of the word fusillade. :)
Nice Blog!
~Ali
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