Twain Knows Best

Sorry, Huck, but you can't use that word these days—Online Athens article

So the publisher of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has decided to take the offensive "n-word" out of the original text and publish new books with the word "slave" used as a replacement. I have mixed feelings about the issue because, although the word is offensive, it is also symbolic of a time in history that should not be forgotten. The reader of the book should understand that Huck's use of the word does not represent his personal feelings about black people. In fact, he has a father/son like relationship with a black man named Jim. His casual use of the word merely reflects the society that he lived in. It is common for children to use the words that adults use, even when they don't understand their meaning, or their power. When I read about Huck Finn as I child, I understood the situation and I knew who the good guys were and who the bad guys were. I do cringe when I read or hear that word, but I also cringe when I think that history is being rewritten and "dressed up" by its removal. Yes, Huck Finn is a fictional character, but Mark Twain wrote about the life that he knew. And racism was a part of that life.

A few weeks ago, on Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday, I watched a documentary about the first two African American students to attend the University of Georgia. One of the students Charlayne Hunter-Gault told how she was taunted by other students and she used the "n-word" frequently when telling her story. Had she not used the word, she would not have given an accurate recounting of what had happened. I was not offended when she spoke the word—that word was a part of her experience and the experience of all black Americans who stood up for their rights and the rights of others. Though it is an ugly word, it played a role in making her the person she is today.

I do understand that we want to protect our children from offensive words. And perhaps, the new version of the classic story will make it more accessible for younger children. Personally, I am a lot more concerned about protecting children from the offensive people who continue to spread hate with their words.

Image retrieved from: (http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Huckleberry-Finn-Bantam-Classics/dp/0553210793)

The Dreaded Stairs

After doing a lot of reading from my textbooks about learning, assessment. and instructional design, I began to wonder if I am entering the right field. It can seem a little...how shall I put this? Unexciting. Tonight I saw this video and it made me think that I may be OK. People like to have fun. I can stay my silly self and it will be alright. Maybe kids will learn more from fun, or at least as much. So fun is still apart of my educational plan...I just need to integrate it with instructional design :)

Reading, Reading, and More Reading.

Today I have been catching up on reading what is required for tonight's online class. I have also been listening to supplementary web presentations, which are wonderful because they allow me to do other tasks at the same time—like load the dishwasher. I hope I can get the work done by tonight. I find that it is harder to read when I am under pressure. My mind keeps wandering—What should we have for dinner? Does Grace have drama tonight? Is it OK to wear my pajamas all day?—and then I have to go back and reread. One issue that has been on my mind today is the possibility of taking two additional courses this summer that would make me eligible for add-on certification in reading. Of course, that also means more work—ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I am considering this option for two reasons: 1) I may not be able to secure a position as a media specialist for the fall and this would give me another option. 2) More education in literacy is always a good thing and it would certainly benefit me when I do become a media specialist. Truthfully, I do enjoy learning, just for learning's sake. I will need to scrape up the money to take the courses. Scraping up money is something that I have NOT learned how to do.