Idea of edited books ignites classroom discussion

Removing the N-word from Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is Louboutin Heels
revising history, students at Woodland Park High School told their teacher when she asked about the forthcoming revised edition of Twain's classic. Removing an emotionally charged word and using another in its place completely changes the book, students said. "Huck Finn" is not just a story about a slave running for freedom, it's about a young man who grows and learns right from wrong at a very specific point in history. The students were affronted by the idea that they might not be considered ready for "Huck Finn," said Deborah Brannon, who teaches junior English Cheap Christian Louboutin Heels
and Advanced Placement English Language. "They felt it was an insult to their intellect," she said.She's been teaching for 21 years, eight of those at Woodland Park High School. "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is part of the curriculum. The book has mostly been on the summer reading list, but it is a topic of discussion when school resumes in the fall, she said. When asked if they thought "Huck Finn" was a racist book, students said that if people fixate on just the single word, they are missing what the story is about. "Without the comparison of the racist characters, Huck's transformation is meaningless," Brannon said. "Reading 'Huckleberry Finn' in class makes people uncomfortable, but that is part of the reason why the conversation has to take place," Brannon said. "You don't pretend it didn't happen." It helps students understand history and even contemporary struggles, she said. One student pointed out that it is perfect timing for Alan Gribben to publish a "sanitized" version of "Huckleberry Finn" and "Tom Sawyer." Twain's Louboutin Tall
autobiography has been released and is a best- seller. Riding the popularity of the author he edited will make Gribben money, he told Brannon.