02-04-2003, 09:55 PM | #1 |
Númenorean
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Louisiana
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Should Grapes of Wrath be taught in school?
I've heard many people say that this book should be banned from all schools. This is ,in my opinion, not only a sensational book, but something that young adults should read to learn more about that time period and the things the citizens of the lower class had to deal with and go through. What do you think, should this book be taught in schools or no?
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02-05-2003, 01:00 AM | #2 |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Seattle, WA
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My class read this book last semester, and frankly I agree with you wholeheartedly. It's the "great American novel," and is not only compelling literature, but also an excellent teaching tool.
I wonder; who would suggest such an idea as to ban Grapes of Wrath?
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02-05-2003, 09:41 AM | #3 |
Halfwitted
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Eryn Vorn
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What's supposed to be offensive about The Grapes of Wrath? I've read it, and not only is it sensational, it seems generally benign. No withcraft or bad language or anything... How extreme do you have to be to protest against this?
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02-05-2003, 10:20 AM | #4 |
Númenorean
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Location: Louisiana
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The school board in my parish (county) was debating whether the grapes of wrath should be banned from the schools in this area. They didnt want it taught because of the language, the violence, and the depiction of the American government in a bad light. Those are all rather stupid reasons, i know. High school students would be reading this anyway, and im sure most of them would be mature enough to read this book.
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02-05-2003, 01:18 PM | #5 |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 516
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Nothing, but nothing, terrifies me more than the banning of books... This is not a practice of only one group or government, but of many nations and faiths. It is not just a shameful part of the past, but continues to cast a shadow on our present.
Here are some sites that have more information on this reprehensible practice. Read a banned book today!!! http://www.ala.org/bbooks/ http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/banned-books.html http://www-mitpress.mit.edu/bookstore/banned.html
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02-05-2003, 08:58 PM | #6 |
Elven Warrior
Join Date: May 2000
Location: D/FW Texas, USA
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Banning Grapes of Wrath because it's anti-government? Heh, that is about as stupid as banning Huck Finn because it's racist. Anyone who reads Huck Finn can easily tell that it satirizes racism with only a modicum of thought. Grapes of Wrath does the same thing with the US government, and if the government cannot stand a little satire, that is too bad.
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02-06-2003, 04:00 PM | #7 |
Lady of Letters
Join Date: Jan 2002
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The Grapes of Wrath should definitely be taught in schools. How can you expect students to read anything critically when they grow up if you never let them exercise their critical faculties for themselves, and always keep them wrapped in cotton-wool?
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02-06-2003, 09:44 PM | #8 |
Númenorean
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Louisiana
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today i heard something also about banning grapes of wrath.. one of the school board members said the ending was "pornographic and not suitable for teenagers." These people are ridiculous eh
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02-08-2003, 01:26 AM | #9 |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Aug 2001
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I remember reading The Grapes of Wrath in high school and being very moved by the ending. Pornographic, it is NOT. I even remember talking with my mother about the ending because I thought it was very powerful. I think we have a problem in our culture (U.S., and perhaps elsewhere) of oversexualizing things. And then in some quarters it is taken as pornographic.
Although every book is not suitable reading for every person, banning books/ideas is just wrong. I used to have a sweatshirt that listed many of the books that have been banned by various schools/communities. The Grapes of Wrath was on the list. Unfortunately I wore out the sweatshirt. |
02-10-2003, 10:27 PM | #10 |
Elven Warrior
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Tampa
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Grapes of Wrath should be taught in all schools during the nap time course. If anyone can't fall asleep, just make them read this book and they'll be in dreamland!
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02-28-2003, 04:06 AM | #11 |
Guy-who-should-come-here-more-often
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I didn't read the Grapes of Wrath in school, but I'm glad the hottest girl I knew then did. She got to tell me about the part where some woman fed some starving man her own breastmilk. I sure enjoyed being related that fact by that person. Other than that, I don't give a damn about the Grapes of Wrath or not.
...ahhh, the memories...
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02-28-2003, 04:34 PM | #12 |
Elven Warrior
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: a castle made of clouds
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Pornographic? Sheesh... in my school, we've read a lot of books that are a *lot* more graphic than The Grapes of Wrath. Violence is the one that really gets me, though. Shall we stop reading Shakespeare and Homer as well?
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03-01-2003, 02:45 AM | #13 | |
Númenorean
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Location: Louisiana
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Quote:
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03-01-2003, 05:01 AM | #14 |
Guy-who-should-come-here-more-often
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Because they are my serious opinion. I really don't care about the Grapes or Wrath or not. The only concern I could muster was that having the Grapes of Wrath in my school (although not in my particular English class) was that it allowed for a memorable conversation with a beautiful woman. Sorry if that's not serious enough for you.
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Amandil Mithadan "Why would you want to tamper with anything Tolkien did?" --Ralph Bashki "Seeking self, I find nothing but myself, but in this I drink the cup of gall I really am. I want everything, and I may have everything, but I have nothing except what I have. What I have I know is not what will fulfill me, and I know this in the bitterness of satisfied desire. Everything I have is still not enough, and in getting everything I have, I have not myself, indeed what I have may have twisted what I am and might be into an image of my own possessions. I will to possess, but I end up possessed by what I possess." -- William Desmond (Ethics and the Between, p. 209-210) |
03-03-2003, 11:37 AM | #15 |
Númenorean
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Location: Louisiana
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*shakes head*
idiot
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03-03-2003, 11:50 PM | #16 |
Elf Lord
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I can't say I've read it, but I can say I've read thirty some banned books. YAY!
Anyway...Of Mice and Men caused a stir in my school last year, actually because of one of my friend's father.
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04-02-2003, 10:31 PM | #17 |
Elven Warrior
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 482
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Of course it should be taught. I do not believe in cencorship of mild graphic content. It adds realism, which is essential; without some of the content of the book it would not be the same. Most of us are all mature enough to handle graphic incidences. Censoring it is like cencoring a part of life that still exists. I did not read the complete book; I lost it. Alas!
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04-04-2003, 10:33 PM | #18 |
The Original Amazonian Coconut
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Well--this isn't about the book, but it's about the movie and the period, and you have to listen.
When the movie was made, it was showed in Russia. The Grapes of Wrath was supposed to depict poor Okie's trying to get out of the dust bowl. The Russian government...using it as propaganda pointed its finger and said "Look what terrible things democracy has done to them!". Russians laughed at us, and at the officials because at America's poorest and worst times, we still had cars, we were able to get jobs, we were able to do what we aspired to do, and the Russians couldn't do any of it. That's my two cents...
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04-05-2003, 10:22 AM | #19 |
Elven Warrior
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I read the book, I thought it was kind of strange, but not enough to be banned!
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