The Class Canon and Cancel Culture

I strongly believe we as a society can not separate a person from their creations. Often times, if something is going to be studied, the purpose is to gain insight from it. I think anyone who is an abuser or harmful person that created something valued and learned from should no longer be heard. I think it would be counter-productive and detrimental to "gain insight" from someone that is a true danger to society. I feel as it would be promoting the wrong message to allow their contributions to fill the minds of others. Almost as saying "well... let's just overlook what they've done because the work they made is still amazing and it's more important than the hurt they've caused". I think someone's work is a representation of themselves, and I don't believe a representation of a harmful person should be cherished and taught. Personally, I would not want to learn one thing from someone that has caused intended harm and/or abused another individual. The article Do Works by Men Implicated by #MeToo Belong in the Classroom? published in The New York Times that we read in class discussed men authors abusing women and questioned if their works should still be an asset in the classroom setting. I think this is not only a matter of separating the "writing from the writer" but also a matter of gender equality. Accepting the work of men that abuse women to continue to flourish is showing that men are of more value than women and they matter more. It proves that as a society we would rather hear a men's insight than getting justice for the suffering they caused women. This needs to change. Ultimately, I think the saying "no one is irreplaceable" applies quite heavily in this matter. I think we can read and learn from the works of others that have had a positive impact on our society and learn the same message, as opposed to reading or learning from someone that has caused intended damage and pain. Yes, people make mistakes... but some mistakes are much more serious than others. 

The article How to Get the Most Out of a Diverse Classroom Library published in Edutopia states that, "books and stories can act as windows in which children see a world outside of their own or mirrors in which they see a reflection of themselves in the world" (Vu). Representation of both windows and mirrors in children's literature is of immense value to a child's character development, as exposer to both will increase their compassion and kindness as they continue to grow into adulthood. 

The three books I would include in my library based on the article How to Get the Most Out of a Diverse Classroom Library published in Edutopia are: 

1. Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud 

2. The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss 

3. Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

I chose to include these three books because I believe they accurately represent both window books and mirror ones! I believe children would be able to use the story Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud as a mirror book, where they can put themselves in the book and learn the importance of compassion. I think the story The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss is mainly a window book, however, can be interpreted in ways that make it a mirror book. Lastly, I think the story Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak would be a great window book where kids could read about a fantasy world, unlike the one they're apart of.