Several people asked me to share the responses I received about whether
or not Me Talk Pretty One Day is appropriate for 11th grade students.
Thanks to everyone who sent me a response!
Alma
--
We actually used it for an all-school read this year, meaning grades
9-12. I didn't see a problem with it, as a librarian and also as a
parent of an 11th grader.
--
It has some pretty racy stuff! Seems like a book that a student might
read independently, but not one I'd choose for required reading.
--
I just saw David Sedaris do a reading at Purchase College and he is
wonderful and extremely funny. Having only read one of the stories in
this particular collection I asked my daughters about the rest of the
book and they think it would be fine. There will be some bad language,
and depending on your population that may be a problem, but they tell me
there are no sexual situations. It is a set of stories by and about Mr.
Sedaris, who lives part-time in Paris wherein he relates the woes of an
expatriate in France.
--
I love all of David Sedaris but don't know if I would require it for
high school summer reading. Maybe they could pick certain stories from it?
--
Personally, I think it's great- we even put it on our 8th grade summer
reading list. But we are at a progressive school in NY. It's a fast and
entertaining read.
--
I asked a teacher and her first response was no. Then she started to
think about the book and its topics and said it would really depend on
the type of student and discussions that went along with the reading.
--
I have read at least half of the book by David Sedaris and will finish
it soon. My son is the one who recommended it to me. He has read all
of David Sedaris' books. He is a soon to be sophomore in college and
his English prof read from the book. That is how Jay learned of it. I
think you will get protests. There is a fair amount of profanity in
the book - it is hilarious, but off-color. It doesn't put me off, but I
think it could put parents off. David is also gay - which also doesn't
bother me - but, he is very open about it from the first chapter. I
think that you would be opening a can of worms, and the teacher might be
spending a lot of time defending and justifying her choice. Don't get
me wrong - I love the book and wish it could be otherwise. I do,
however, feel that the college level is the better place for this. Only
because parents can't make such a hullabaloo over the book.
--
Alma Cameron
Library Media Specialist
Lakeshore High School
Stevensville, MI 49127
acameron@remc11.k12.mi.us
Phone: 269-428-1405
Fax: 269-428-1570
http://www.lakeshoreschools.k12.mi.us/high/media/homepg.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home