"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." -Mark Twain
By Oneironaut
@_sketch_ (5742)
United States
January 18, 2011 9:43pm CST
So I still just can NOT get over this ludicrousness about the release of the new censored version of Huck Finn. I actually came across a great article that made some really great points and takes a deeper look into the debate.
The article said this,
""We're supportive of teachers who are brave enough to tackle the complex historical and contemporary issues of race and racism with their students. We know it's possible, we know teachers who do it."
Legendary comedian and activist D. Gregory (lol his first name violated Mylot's terms of use, haha - irony.) has also pointed out that Twain’s human portrayal of “n***** Jim” was an important and radical departure from the nameless masses of African slaves that had previously appeared in American literature.
“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education,” said Mark Twain a century ago. Let’s follow Twain’s example and allow students to truly learn the difficult lessons of Huck Finn.""
http://humanrights.change.org/blog/view/censoring_mark_twain_and_our_nations_racial_past
I have to totally agree with this. The book was censored because some people felt that the language is disrespectful or racist, but I believe that the language is actually a very helpful aspect in helping to teach the lesson of equality. I don't believe that the solution is to pretend that racism doesn't and has never existed, but rather educating the public, allowing us to learn from past mistakes.
I find it ironic how Twain's quote can directly apply to what is happening to his book. I believe that he is a very smart man and that he knew exactly what he was doing when he put those "offensive" words in there. He understood that that was an effective way of getting the moral of the story across.
3 people like this
7 responses
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
26 Jan 11
Thanks for the link. I just took a look at it. I couldn't agree more with you that in order to teach students on equality , they shouldn't have omitted the fact. Just tell it like it is .. so that the moral of the story can be learned and understood.
@sid556 (30953)
• United States
26 Jan 11
Obviously, neither do I. They say we should but I don't start many discussions and it is rare that mine are just like someone elses but it happens. I did get pretty fired up when I read in the local paper the other day that they were revising these books. I was actually angry when a lot of the schools pulled them from the library shelves but that was actually a good thing as it caused some kids who otherwise wouldn't have read them to go and seek them out. 
Changing the actual wording is just plain wrong.
Changing the actual wording is just plain wrong.
@EdnaReyes (2622)
• Philippines
20 Jan 11
There's things that need not to be handled in school life. Children minds are fragile and could not absorbed ideas the way we want it to be absorbed. Schools official are just being careful but sometimes being careful make the matter worst. There's rules to be followed, policies to be observed and implemented. This is the reality inside an institution. We must obey in order to be followed. I think many would not agree but education is not only achieved inside school. Most come from life experience itself. Life is the real teacher of every human being. Mark Twain knew life and he's telling and teaching us the lessons.
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
23 Jan 11
Well if the book is not appropriate for school, I think they should keep it out of the curriculum, instead of changing it.
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
19 Jan 11
I really don't understand what they hope to achieve... I mean, their goal is to protect children and young adults from learning "bad" words, but in the process, aren't they hiding the "bad" realities that produced those words? In the long run, isn't it important for children to understand such realities?
And also, they assume that these children will go back and re-read Mark Twain as adults, when they're old enough for the "bad" words - but seriously, how often does that happen? I don't know many adults who re-read the classics on a regular basis - so they'll just end up with memories of a chopped off version of a great book.
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
19 Jan 11
Pff... commenting on my own comment... but my mouse slipped on "post" and I wasn't done yet 
Regarding the education quote - the school textbooks ruined some great books for me. I remember they had excerpts from Joyce, Salinger, Wilde and Shaw in my English textbook, and, for many, many years, I refused to read these authors because I associated them with the dreary classes. As a teenager, I was willing to read anything, as long as it wasn't in the textbook.
Regarding the education quote - the school textbooks ruined some great books for me. I remember they had excerpts from Joyce, Salinger, Wilde and Shaw in my English textbook, and, for many, many years, I refused to read these authors because I associated them with the dreary classes. As a teenager, I was willing to read anything, as long as it wasn't in the textbook.@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
19 Jan 11
I don't really understand it either. Censorship may be "education", but it certainly isn't knowledge. I know what you mean about the textbooks. I actually love a lot of the subjects, but when they are in textbook form, it just ruins it.
@kalyani1234 (637)
• India
25 Jan 11
I agree with you completely on your views. Isn't that what happens anywhere in the world? Anything that is glaringly true and something can be learned from, immediately becomes a thing to censored and hidden in the name of protecting people's sentiments that may be offended. Mark Twain was indeed smart but when are the people who make policies in education going to understand these things?
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
26 Jan 11
Well the whole education system is just messed up anyways. I was reading an article in the paper just the other day, talking about how they make so many crazy rules, pulling the system one way and then the other, without even giving it any time to see if these changes are good or bad. This is why I believe it is up to the parents to make sure that their children are actually learning.
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
19 Jan 11
I agree with you 100% and cannot stand it when books are banned or censored, I think it's lunacy. It is exactly as you said, learning from the past and showing the mistakes that were made. How can that possibly be wrong.
I find it more disrespectful to censor these books and I really don't like anyone telling me what I can or cannot read, OR, what my children can or cannot read.
Have you ever seen the list of banned books from the past? It amazes me how these groups of censors can accomplish this. One of my favorites is "To Kill A Mockingbird"...one of the best books ever written along with many, many others.
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
19 Jan 11
To Kill A Mockingbird is a great book. I have read many banned books in my lifetime. I actually make a point to read them. The way I see it, if they are banned, they must be saying something good.
