The Catcher in the Rye - Persuasive Journal Response Should The Catcher in the Rye be taught in high school? Written By: Zafir Kaiser ENG2D1-06 2015/04/17 One of J.D. Salinger’s finest pieces, The Catcher in the Rye is considered by many to be one of the greatest books of all time; but it has a very controversial history. The novel has received tremendous levels of criticism at the punishing hands of critics since it is considered to be a “crude way of reflecting teenagers” as it contains uncensored profanity, routine sexual references, and violence. Critics wish to band the novel for its depressing views of life, vulgar language and mature themes; but it is from these elements the reader can learn the best lessons.
When high-profile gun violence has happened it brings a nationwide focus that beams down on gun control. Though there has been a lot of press in regard to violence concerning guns, the one that hit the United States the hardest was the loss of innocent children at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The deadliest shooting to happen in a school was the tragedy that happened at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 2007. Of course there is no forgetting the Columbine shootings that happened in 1999, or the young Amish girls that were shot and killed in 2006. News articles bring up these horrible deeds from the past in regard to bring focus on gun control.
Book banning has a huge negative effect on how students live, at school as well as at home. Book censors can only give unreasonable and unjustifiable motives for banning novels to validate their cause. In the end, the actions of the people who ban books create numerous negative effects on minors. Book banning limits student access to great works of literature. Many people regard William Shakespeare as one of the greatest English writers of all time, yet almost all of his plays have been prohibited from most schools.
In 1951, J.D Salinger really hit home with a lot of troubled young adults when he wrote The Catcher In the Rye. Salinger, who used a lot of profanity and controversial issues throughout the novel, expressed many themes underlying the human race as a whole. “Salinger’s work has also a strong focus on the family”(Bruni). Throughout the book he showed us a young sensitive boy, with a gifted mind, and a one of a kind way of teaching. Incongruously, The Catcher In the Rye is the third most banned book in America.
That is pretty outrageous that there were so many incidents in schools in a matter of six weeks this school year. In the article that Dr. Johnston wrote called Stop School Shootings: Let Teachers Carry Guns, he doesn’t think that “gun-free” zones are working. Defenseless people are easier to victimize. Dr. Johnston wrote, “If we have these “gun-free” zones then criminals will know that these places are the safest place to kill people and that’s why most of the mass murders in our nation take place at these locations.” (Johnston 2006). Dr. Johnston also wrote that, “Gun control laws do not protect good people; they disarm good people.
It will also help your professor gauge the skill level of the class for teaching purposes. However, you may discuss the assignment with your professor if you wish. Students Have Always Been Violent By David Greenberg Judging by the histrionic Columbine massacre coverage you'd think that children are by nature innocent, free of violent or sexual thoughts until corrupted by our culture. That schools have traditionally been safe. That the recent spate of killings is unprecedented.
Positivists believe that questionnaires are very reliable and that is the main positive goal. However, interpretivists reject the view of questionnaires as they claim it isn’t valid as the respondent on has ‘yes and no’ answer questions and they don’t go into depth with the answer. In Item B it says that ‘parents are accustomed to supplying information to the school’ therefore questionnaires would be the best way to conduct this as they can be given out on a regular basis and don’t need a formal meeting making the parents feel intimidated and not giving completely true answers. Because questionnaires collect information from a large number of people, the results stand a better chance of being truly representative. However, some parents might feel that the questions being asked are too personal and might feel like they are being judged by the school, but although questionnaires may ask personal or sensitive questions; parents are generally under no obligation to answer them.
Both Catcher in the Rye and Igby Goes Down are a clear representation of the youth rejecting the value of conformity in their contextual societies. Both Salinger and Steers utilize the characterisation of their young protagonists, Holden and Igby, to epitomise non-conformity. Both characters, of wealthy background, have been expelled from numerous expensive private schools due to inability to fit with social norms. Holden cannot stand the concept of the expensive prep school moulding him into something he does not want to be and hence, he fails to apply himself and gets expelled. Holden considers Pency Prep school, a symbol of conformist society, as “phoney” and full of “morons”.
When parents say their concerns about banning the book it makes other people realize that maybe it should be banned, but they don't see the lesson being taught underneath all the demeaning language and situations in the novel. Parents should think deeper when they read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn since they are not thinking hard enough to see the literary worth of this novel to students. However, this novel should only be read by students who are in middle school and in high school because it gives the students a clear idea of what a good novel is. A novel that contains all literary worth and it can broaden their way of thinking about the real world. Also, something to consider about parents being concerned about this novel was probably the fact that they are scared of what the past contained.
Books are constantly beint banned. Parents do not want their children to be exposed to materials the find inapropriate. Although it is easy to understand a parent wanting to protect his/her child sometimes borders are crossed. People are right when they say limits should be set, but the question comes up..."who should be held responsible for setting them.?" Who gets to choose what is right and not right.