ADO

I remember times like that, where we were introduced to a new Shakespeare play. I also remember every single sight that not only I let out, but that every student around me had to give…quite loudly as I remember.

Really though I also remember a time that we learned from everything around us and things were not always sugar coated or put gently so that no one was offended. If we always went around worrying about others being offended with everything that we did or said then we would never be a loud to actually be an individual. Wouldn’t it be a shame if we were not able to actually be ourselves? Does anyone remember the show Pleasant Ville? Well I remember that everyone was exactly the same and the amount of censorship was so much that there was al loss of colour. Who wants that?

So then here I sit and I have to think about what I would like to be like, as a teacher. I know that I will not censor everything; there will probably be times when I have to and don’t want to. Then there will be others when I should; but if I want the students to learn, I may just go against the judgment and not. Both ways I think that some need to and others not. I believe that as teachers we have to use our judgment and give the students a chance to learn. If that involves learning something that has a guy’s head on a spike and a very detailed version of what he is seeing in his death then that is the way it has to be.

Certain things (like Shakespeare) have made it many centuries without censorship, why should we start now. If we take away the imagination of great writers how can we expect our students to become one, I guess you could say something like this…

“Yes Johnny that’s right, you can write a play about anything you like and your
imagination is your limit, but you can’t do this or this and maybe you shouldn’t
mention this and this too. Oh, and take that out someone will get offended there
too. Other than that you have a good Idea on your hands.”

I think that will go over great!?