Room at the Top

After reading “Special” and acknowledging the truths and real life dilemmas that arise in the text I finally ask myself, would I teach this? The answer is no, not because of the controversial context, but because there seems to be no final conclusion to grasp, no central issue to revolve discussion around. Yes every character struggles with issues that are relevant today but high school students need answers, they need characters they not only can relate to but characters that show there is a way out, a chance for happy ending. As I look through Anne’s and Sarita’s blogs I see they agree, and without surprise for very similar reasons. I like the statement Sarita makes that ties in with my thinking of a solid conclusion, her idea that there must be some sort of redemption. Yes the book allows for issues to be brought up, but the teacher also needs some textual evidence to prove that there is hope, or in Sarita’s words that the classroom isn’t all doomed.
As I ponder my own interest in the story I realize my only draw to it was its shocking context. As wrong and twisted as that may seem it is true. So when I realize that I am shocked as I read the text as a sophomore in college who has seen and or dealt with these issues in real life I know without a doubt that a 9th grader in high school would be blown away by the context. I am never one for banning books, and am not necessarily saying this book should be banned, but I am saying that the only way a book of this caliber should be used if it has the ability to chance or help teenagers in their walk of life, and “Special” does not.