Mr. King's opinion on the following dialogue b/w my 5th grader's story and his school

[kawamizu]

Teacher,
This will be my last email on the subject. The only reason Michael and I have agreed with the rewriting is because of certain passages in the story where it is not certain exactly how the people die. If they die at the hands of monstrous birds and are eaten for survival, we would not have a problem with it. He obviously steps over the line by saying things like, "Well, he is almost dead, so let's eat him." (people killing people) The comment on how good they taste is his attempt to shock, which we both agree is not appropriate. Ashdon is a compassionate person so I have to disagree with you on that. One would agree that some of the works of Stephen King are quite disturbing, and although I do not know him personally (I have read many of his works), I would have to believe based on his philanthropy, he is a compassionate human being. Michael & I will work with Ashdon on his story.
Thanks,
Parent

Parent,
There is one other student that is having to rework his story as well due to some violence. So, this is not an issue. I think the reason I feel the way I do is because 1. It is illegal to eat people. 2. I have compassion for other people so when I read it, it was very disturbing to me. You said that Ashdon was so concerned about the bird egg and was nurturing it, but I see zero compassion in being able to write a story about people killing group members to eat them and then commenting on how good they taste. I honestly cannot process why he feels this is ok. 3. I do not feel that it would be an appropriate story if he were in college either. I feel that he crossed the line.
Yesterday during class, I explained our decision to Ashdon about reworking his story and told him I would help. He gave me an attitude about it the entire hour. I am asking that you work with him on editing it at home.
I have forwarded this email to the principal as well since he made the final decision.
Thanks,
Teacher


Teacher,

I feel like I should discuss this with you further in detail. Even though I know Ashdon did write to shock in the story, I feel he has a valid point. He mentioned tonight a couple of kids in class are writing about war, guns and killing. In my eyes, the atrocities of war are far more despicable than cannibalism based out of survival. One has to look no further at the savages of war than at photos of deformed Iraqi children from depleted uranium.

At dinner tonight, Ashdon talked about how come it's bad when humans eat humans, but it's ok when we eat other things that are alive, like cows and chicken? We tried to explain the "food chain" concept and why it doesn't work that way. It also made me wonder, it's ok for tigers to eat tigers and fish to eat other fish . . . when is it ok, who or what can eat human beings? Dinosaurs (since they would be bigger), tigers, bears? I know it seems as though I am ranting, but I encourage Ashdon to question everything. Would we be having a conversation about his paper if he were in college, probably not. So why are we having it now? Why can't 11 year olds write about these things? I know you said it was not appropriate, but I want to know why you feel this is so. Is it because it makes you uncomfortable? Or because it is not practiced normally --only in extreme conditions? Have you read Hansel and Gretel? That's not even a survival story! Teacher, I'm not trying to sway the decision. I just want you to see my perspective and Ashdon's as well. Likewise, I'd like to know yours.

Thanks for reading my thoughts,

Parent

Parent,
I think it could be reworked. I will work with him on this. The stories have to be printed and sent by next Wed., the 14th, so they are due by the end of class on Tuesday the 13th. I think that he should remove all aspects of cannibalism. I know this happens and it is based off of a true story, but I would like him to remove these parts. He can talk about the group members dying because that is a part of surviving, but I would like for him to stay away from eating each other. I’ll work with him at 10:30 and let you know how it goes.
Thanks,
Teacher






Teacher,

Michael and I have read the story and we feel it is over the top with too much emphasis on "shock factor". We agree that this has been his best attempt in writing a story. We feel that if given the opportunity to revise certain passages, this could be a story that he could be proud of. I know this is for a grade, so I'm hoping you will give him a chance and the time to rework his thoughts on paper. If this is a possibility, will he be able to publish his story? Please let me know what you decide.

Thank you,

Parent

[kawamizu]

We are having a meeting tomorrow about the story. I've looked up 1st amendment rights cases and have some ground. I really can't believe this is happening!

[LadyPain]

Try to remember that school is an institution similar to prison. They trap kids for a minimum of 13 years (K-12) and try to force their moral views down their throat in order to turn them into what they think society wants. Hell, you can get less time for murder. Do what you have to do to keep peace with the school and to keep him in school, and encourage him to write at home and to write what he WANTS at home.

Good luck, and best wishes.

[*~*Lily*~*]

That's ridiculous. It sounds to me like the teacher doesn't want to compromise. I understand the teachers point in too much shock factor can be disturbing, but is it that or is it that the teacher just doesn't like the story? And if it's based on a true story well then there you go, can't rewrite history teacher.
You know your child better then the teacher. I think your right, if this was a college paper, there wouldn't be an issue even a high school paper!
I am glad you have been doing research and have found some things to help you out let us know how it goes.

[danie]

Try to remember that school is an institution similar to prison. They trap kids for a minimum of 13 years (K-12) and try to force their moral views down their throat in order to turn them into what they think society wants. Hell, you can get less time for murder. Do what you have to do to keep peace with the school and to keep him in school, and encourage him to write at home and to write what he WANTS at home.

Good luck, and best wishes.

But some teachers actually teach tolerance, creativity and non-judgmental attitudes!
There are some parents who wouldn't want their 11-year-old child listening to another child talk about cannibalism and horror stories. As teachers, we have to consider everyone's feelings and beliefs. It's difficult, but rewarding.
I try to make my classroom a place of joy and learning, not a prison cell. I believe most teachers feel this way.

[Bryan James]

In 4th grade (1982-ish), I wrote a story wherein I described an antagonist being "as dark as Sith."

My teacher graded my story down for that. "There is no such word. Show it to me in ANY dictionary."

And, imagine it, I decided to confront her. (Me? Would I do such a thing?) "I hope you weren't trying to use a cussword, Bryan." The story got marked down again for that.

Now, 27 years later, George Lucas has made a few dollars. "Sith" is semi-common vernacular.

Most gradeschool teachers end their education when they get their teaching certification. Then they stare at the clock on the wall above the blackboard--waiting for 3:00, their weekly paycheck, and Summer Break.

[*~*Lily*~*]

Try to remember that school is an institution similar to prison. They trap kids for a minimum of 13 years (K-12) and try to force their moral views down their throat in order to turn them into what they think society wants. Hell, you can get less time for murder. Do what you have to do to keep peace with the school and to keep him in school, and encourage him to write at home and to write what he WANTS at home.

Good luck, and best wishes.

I see what you mean, I failed a paper (I knew I would when I turned it in) in college, when I was asked to compare the garden of Eden and the garden of gods. I said you can't compare the two as one was real, the other is not. (My Christian beliefs were hated in that class.)

And back in HS I had a history teacher say the Holocaust never happened. I was SO upset by that, I went and turned the teacher in.
Where I live revisionists are not uncommon. You can't change history it is what it is. The teacher lost their job.

[fushingfeef]

Back in the mid-80's my brother turned in a story to his English teacher, who had given an open assignment to write a piece of fiction. The story my brother wrote was about a kid who showed up in school with a gun at a pep assembly and started shooting kids. Keep in mind, Columbine was still years in the future. Anyway, all the teacher did was ask him to sit down and talk about the story. He wanted to be sure my brother was okay and not angry or anything. He ended up giving my brother an 'A' after he talked to my brother, because the story was well-written. Now that was a pretty cool teacher.

[Damaris]

I agree more with LadyPain. Letting the boy know he can write whatever he wants at home is probably the most important thing the parents can do. But on school premises, freedoms are no longer guaranteed, and that includes the freedom of speech. If the parents want their child to attend that school, they should let the issue drop. It's not worth the fight. School officials and board members are plagued with fears of words turning into actions and will try to limit the words instead of finding out why they are being used. If things head south and violence occurs, the school wants no culpability whatsoever, and if that means a fifth-grader re-writing his story then they see it as a very small price to pay. But it's important to remember that officious is not the same as malicious. Schools were not meant to be babysitters, parental institutions, or moral compasses for the masses ... but they are now, and struggle with those obligations with while trying to provide a learning environment. For the teacher's part, he/she did agree to let the student re-write the story, instead of failing it outright, and okayed it for publication when he/she could have denied it. In the words of Mark Twain, don't let school get in the way of your education.

[*~*Lily*~*]

Back in the mid-80's my brother turned in a story to his English teacher, who had given an open assignment to write a piece of fiction. The story my brother wrote was about a kid who showed up in school with a gun at a pep assembly and started shooting kids. Keep in mind, Columbine was still years in the future. Anyway, all the teacher did was ask him to sit down and talk about the story. He wanted to be sure my brother was okay and not angry or anything. He ended up giving my brother an 'A' after he talked to my brother, because the story was well-written. Now that was a pretty cool teacher.

That was handled well too. Now days, I bet they would have to call the police to investigate because of all the school shootings and such.