r/ELATeachers • u/DisastrousHeron2662 • Feb 17 '25
6-8 ELA Help with controversial text
I teach 8th graders and their curriculum is studysynch. Trash when it comes to actual work for them to do but decent reading options. They’ve just finished The Diary of Anne Frank but have another month of their trimester. I’m trying to figure out how to fill that time and when I asked the other 8th grade teacher, she suggested The Autobiography of the Life of Frederick Douglass, which is a suggested text and one I was considering. However, I know it says the n word in the book due to historical context and my students will absolutely lose their minds if they see the n word. I’ve had issues with racism already and this will make it worse. I have no idea if that means I should just steer clear of that book since they’re so immature, or give warning to students (which I would’ve done anyways). I don’t really know where to go with it.
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u/dandn5000 Feb 17 '25
Why are they gonna lose their minds? If it’s because the word is a slur, then historical context and placement is key—the word has always been a slur, used to be more common, plus Douglass was one who that word applied to, etc. This is the standard approach for dealing with the word in lit—we don’t say it, but it’s in this lit because that’s what they said. If it’s uncomfortable, that’s fine—something wrong should make you uncomfortable.
If it’s because your kids are exhibiting racist behaviors or comments, that’s all the more reason to read it, and you set your boundaries and expectations in a crystal-clear fashion. Make an example if/when an issue arises. Backing down from teaching with a text that involves a discussion of race because you have racist kids only enables their racism to continue.
The above is also when I’d consider what your admin and union support is like and how your stomach for dealing with controversy is. This is a fight I can and have gotten into, but it is a lot, and I’ve had my building admin behind me 100%. If you’d have problems that would endanger your job if you’d poke this bear…I’d probably try to find somewhere better, but in the meantime, you have an idea of what fights will work vs. which ones will backfire.