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New York, 11:14 AM
Wed Dec 2
52 posts in the last 24 hours

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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of Perhaps Not Perhaps Not
    11/09/09

    In reply to Teacher Suspended For Implying Chuck Palahniuk Is Cool
    Actually, I think this story is now required reading in most Catholic boys' schools, given the epidemic rates of creative masturbation among repressed gay youths. Growing hair on your palms and making the baby Jesus cry doesn't scare you? Here, read this. #education
     Reply
    Perhaps Not was starred Perhaps Not was unstarred
    Image of Spirit Fingers Spirit Fingers
    11/09/09

    In reply to Teacher Suspended For Implying Chuck Palahniuk Is Cool
    Ok, well, I'll preface this by indicating that I'm old, and not nearly progressive enough to handle such things. That being said, why not just mention the story in class offhandedly? Some brownnoser would have looked it up, read it, brought it to school, shared it in the cafeteria (all giggly and finding his moment of cool) and then ostensibly someone would bring it up in class. The teacher could have the discussion about it, answer questions in that "cool teacher with a corduroy blazer with suede arm patches and a ponytail" (lame!) way. Everybody wins. Kids read. Teacher guides and answers questions about meaning, symbolism, applying a carrot for non-intended use, and generally grossing out at least 50% of the class and making uncomfortable teenagers even more horrified, because literature should require therapy, which I guess is the point here?

    Also, that story sounds disgusting. #education
     Reply
    Spirit Fingers was starred Spirit Fingers was unstarred
    Image of snugbug snugbug
    11/09/09

    @Spirit Fingers: One counterpoint to this fauxtrovery I can think of is that Arthur Rimbaud embedded much more explicit homosexual imagery than Palahniuk ever did, in immortal poems which he composed between the ages of 12 through 17. And his stuff is now considered literature with a capital "L." Isn't that enough of an argument to defeat this "teens are blessed innocent lambies that should be sheltered from the disgusting, humorous, poignant manifestations of human sexuality" stance? America, home of the prude.. Carry on, please.
     Reply
    Edited by snugbug at 11/09/09 12:10 PM snugbug was starred snugbug was unstarred
    Image of Spirit Fingers Spirit Fingers
    11/09/09

    @snugbug: Not trying to be a prude per se. Just stating that books about burgeoning sexuality are fine, whether straight or gay. But books about eating entrails and the like sound more worrisome than the usual literature. As a former teacher, I know that there is a line between educating, and putting forth some daring part of your own agenda. And this teacher seems to be doing the latter. Okay in college. Not so much in high school. What if some disturbed child decides to give some of these actions a try with harmful results? Who's the responsible party then?

    If you're going to do it, get approval from the school. Make sure your students are mature enough to handle the material, and be prepared to defend its importance in your classroom, more than just the "students can learn from it" line. 'Tis all I'm saying.
     Reply
    Edited by Spirit Fingers at 11/09/09 12:35 PM Spirit Fingers was starred Spirit Fingers was unstarred
    Image of quickqueenof quickqueenof
    11/09/09

    In reply to Teacher Suspended For Implying Chuck Palahniuk Is Cool
    I was a HS English teacher for many years, and trust me, teh keeds are already into Palahniuk. I allowed them to read him for a self-selected novel project. HOWEVER, I would NEVER be dumb enough to use him in the classroom. That is just a lawsuit or uncomfortable meeting waiting to happen. There are PLENTY of edgy, interesting works of literature without using "Guts," which traumatized me when I read it. #education
     Reply
    Hiphopopotamus promoted this comment quickqueenof was starred quickqueenof was unstarred
    Image of Hiphopopotamus Hiphopopotamus
    11/09/09

    @quickqueenof: Yup. Anyone who has read the story 'Guts' knows exactly why that was probably a step a two over the line.

    Not that they are particularly good examples of literature, but I don't think Fight Club or Survivor or the like would cause an uproar. 'Guts' actually IS very well written, but it made me ill reading it the first time, well out of high school. #education
     Reply
    Hiphopopotamus was starred Hiphopopotamus was unstarred
    Image of nozer nozer
    11/09/09

    In reply to Teacher Suspended For Implying Chuck Palahniuk Is Cool
    "The story -- written for Playboy magazine -- discusses a teenage boy's use of a carrot in a sex act on himself and autoerotic asphyxiation."

    Uh... I think the part where the boy has to chew off his intestine after getting it sucked out of his anus by a pool filter is much more disturbing than those two acts. Priorities here, people. I didn't even remember those things happened, because all I can think about is the description of that veiny "snake" covered in shit and food. #education
     Reply
    ms_priestypants promoted this comment nozer was starred nozer was unstarred
    Image of ms_priestypants ms_priestypants
    11/09/09

    @nozer: Um, yes. I think I will be having nightmares about that for some time. All of it. Blech. #education
     Reply
    ms_priestypants was starred ms_priestypants was unstarred
    Image of Gawkchalk Gawkchalk
    11/09/09

    In reply to Teacher Suspended For Implying Chuck Palahniuk Is Cool
    What does this story entails? #education
     Reply
    BettyCrocker promoted this comment Gawkchalk was starred Gawkchalk was unstarred
    Image of BettyCrocker BettyCrocker
    11/09/09

    @Gawkchalk: Entrails #education
     Reply
    BettyCrocker was starred BettyCrocker was unstarred
    Image of senatormayer senatormayer
    11/09/09

    In reply to Teacher Suspended For Implying Chuck Palahniuk Is Cool
    I'm eighteen and I'm not sure I ever want to masturbate again after reading that story. It's easily the most horrifying thing I've read. It's even scarier than the time I dreamed George W. Bush won the presidency and the twin towers fell. (I haven't got a clue as to where that came from.) #education
     Reply
    senatormayer was starred senatormayer was unstarred
    Image of lukeoneil47 lukeoneil47
    11/09/09

    In reply to Teacher Suspended For Implying Chuck Palahniuk Is Cool
    Interesting story, but I wonder what the root case of it was. #education
     Reply
    lukeoneil47 was starred lukeoneil47 was unstarred
    Image of TheExperience TheExperience
    11/09/09

    In reply to Teacher Suspended For Implying Chuck Palahniuk Is Cool
    Guts is a pretty stomach turning story, but if it was a senior or junior class, they were probably reading that stuff on their own anyway. Call me when a class of fifth graders has to read it. #education
     Reply
    snugbug promoted this comment TheExperience was starred TheExperience was unstarred
    Image of The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx
    11/09/09

    In reply to Teacher Suspended For Implying Chuck Palahniuk Is Cool
    I'm all for cool English teachers, but the news report states that he handed out printed copies of the story to be read in class, and collected them at the end -- why? To keep it a secret?

    While handing out smutty stories by a lousy hack writer on the QT might make Van Voorhis popular with the kids, it's poor judgement on his part. And I'm not sure I understand the story's academic value, unless the story's special topic will be covered on the SATs . . . #education
     Reply
    howdybeep (runs with monkey wrenches) promoted this comment The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx was starred The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx was unstarred
    Image of howdybeep (runs with monkey wrenches) howdybeep (runs with monkey wrenches)
    11/09/09

    @The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx: It was probably more of a resources thing (he could only afford to make 30ish copies instead of 200) than a Vast Conspiracy to Freak Out the Parents With Secret Smut in Class issue.

    And I assume the story selection was the aughts version of a former Marine doing karate demonstrations and then rapping Keats. Got to open those hearts and minds to book-learnin' somehow. #education
     Reply
    howdybeep (runs with monkey wrenches) was starred howdybeep (runs with monkey wrenches) was unstarred
    Image of contains_hot_liquid contains_hot_liquid
    11/09/09

    @The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx: Copyright. You can make copies for distribution in class, but they have to be returned. #education
     Reply
    contains_hot_liquid was starred contains_hot_liquid was unstarred
    Image of The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx
    11/09/09

    @contains_hot_liquid: Thanks -- the copyright thing makes more sense than the "secret story" thing. But still -- if Van Voorhis could pick any story in the universe, it boggles my mind that he settled for THAT one. Or maybe I just don't recognize the genius of Palahniuk?
     Reply
    Edited by The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx at 11/09/09 11:49 AM The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx was starred The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx was unstarred
    Image of contains_hot_liquid contains_hot_liquid
    11/09/09

    @The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx: Or maybe he wanted to show a class of non-readers that reading can be interesting and provocative. #education
     Reply
    contains_hot_liquid was starred contains_hot_liquid was unstarred
    Image of The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx
    11/09/09

    @contains_hot_liquid: So what's next for the new breed of hip teachers: book reports on Penthouse Forum?

    I have no problem exposing teens to literature that will engage and challenge them, and I am not a prude. I just question this guy's choice of material, because I don't think Palahniuk has any claim to literary merit. The story's shock value doesn't make it a significant work -- in my opinion. I'm sure others will disagree. #education
     Reply
    The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx was starred The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx was unstarred
    Image of contains_hot_liquid contains_hot_liquid
    11/09/09

    @The_Lovely_Miss_Bronx: Literary merit doesn't exist. It's writing. Most kids have no experience being moved by the act of reading, so if this story sickens the kids or the parents, or you, good. At least the power of the written word has been demonstrated.

    From there, let the conversation begin... that is the purpose of the classroom. #education
     Reply
    contains_hot_liquid was starred contains_hot_liquid was unstarred
    Image of WillaCatheter WillaCatheter
    11/09/09

    In reply to Teacher Suspended For Implying Chuck Palahniuk Is Cool
    Darn those English teachers and their filthy books. Never mind that these innocent children know every word to the last album by The Eminems. #education
     Reply
    snugbug promoted this comment WillaCatheter was starred WillaCatheter was unstarred
    Image of lafleur lafleur
    11/09/09

    In reply to Teacher Suspended For Implying Chuck Palahniuk Is Cool
    We read a Palahniuk novel in AP Senior English. One of the Christians complained to the teacher about a sex scene and the teacher effectively told the Christian to fuck off and grow up.

    I loved that class. #education
     Reply
    snugbug promoted this comment lafleur was starred lafleur was unstarred
    Image of BettyCrocker BettyCrocker
    11/09/09

    In reply to Teacher Suspended For Implying Chuck Palahniuk Is Cool
    I will never eat carrots by candlelight near a pool, ever again. #education
     Reply
    BettyCrocker was starred BettyCrocker was unstarred
    Image of Sergio Hernandez Sergio Hernandez
    11/09/09

    In reply to Teacher Suspended For Implying Chuck Palahniuk Is Cool
    My 10th grade English teacher lent me a copy of Palahniuk's Invisible Monsters once.

    I didn't really learn anything from it, except what "felching" is. Although I guess that's better than how other people learn what "felching" is. #education
     Reply
    Sergio Hernandez was starred Sergio Hernandez was unstarred
    Image of Mo MoDo Mo MoDo
    11/09/09

    In reply to Teacher Suspended For Implying Chuck Palahniuk Is Cool
    All I need to know about carrots and about masturbation (just not together) I learned from Fast Times At Ridgemont High #education
     Reply
    Mo MoDo was starred Mo MoDo was unstarred
    Image of scroll_lock scroll_lock
    11/09/09

    In reply to Teacher Suspended For Implying Chuck Palahniuk Is Cool
    Wasn't Dr. Carrot brought up on charges of indecency regarding photos he took of baby corn? #education
     Reply
    scroll_lock was starred scroll_lock was unstarred
    Image of BadUncle BadUncle
    11/09/09

    @scroll_lock: Those rumors were squashed. #education
     Reply
    BadUncle was starred BadUncle was unstarred
    Image of valet_of_the_dolls valet_of_the_dolls
    11/09/09

    @scroll_lock: He's out on a peel. #education
     Reply
    valet_of_the_dolls was starred valet_of_the_dolls was unstarred
    Image of scroll_lock scroll_lock
    11/09/09

    @BadUncle: I knew him in high school when he played the tuber, but this beets all. #education
     Reply
    scroll_lock was starred scroll_lock was unstarred
    Image of scroll_lock scroll_lock
    11/09/09

    @valet_of_the_dolls: He was cold framed but they still have to get to the root of the matter. #education
     Reply
    scroll_lock was starred scroll_lock was unstarred
    Image of valet_of_the_dolls valet_of_the_dolls
    11/09/09

    @scroll_lock: He fought the slaw and the slaw won. #education
     Reply
    valet_of_the_dolls was starred valet_of_the_dolls was unstarred
    Image of scroll_lock scroll_lock
    11/09/09

    @valet_of_the_dolls: I knew you'd turnip sooner or later. #education
     Reply
    scroll_lock was starred scroll_lock was unstarred
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