Classroom Voices, Feb. 12

February 12, 2011

Rewriting history

This is in response to "Epithets edited out of 'Tom Sawyer,' 'Finn'; Purists call the changes censorship; others say more kids will read book" (Live! Jan. 6). I am appalled and disgusted that racial slurs will be taken out of the new versions of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." I have recently read the latter, and it is a brilliant, authentic portrayal of life in the 19th century.

Racism and discrimination plagued the 1800s. It is not right; in fact it is ridiculous that the "N-word" and "Injun" will be removed from these stories, which teach students how life in America was two centuries ago. The racial slurs, although disrespectful, give us a much clearer image of 19th-century America.

The new versions of Mark Twain's masterpieces cannot and will not truly educate and enlighten readers like the original versions do. Changing these novels would be like rewriting history, and no one should have the power to do that. If the "N-word" and "Injun" are going to be removed, we should also put clothes on Michelangelo's "David." Is that statue not "inappropriate"?

We should not change history; it teaches us not only about the past but also about the future.

Billy Stampfl, eighth grader, Park Junior High School, La Grange Park

Hurtful words

I agree with censoring the Mark Twain's books. In my eighth-grade class, I read "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." My reason for agreeing with censoring it is that the words are very disrespectful to me. And in my household, it is like a swear word. It might not be like that for others, but since I am from the African-American race, it isn't a good word to use. The N-word means "ignorant and stupid," which are words that hurt people's feelings. If you don't want to be called bad words, don't call others bad words.

Shakira Cox, eighth grader, Park Junior High School, La Grange Park

American history

It would be an outrage to guard children from the real meaning of American history and how these novels were so engaging to everyone in that time period and since. Now, almost 150 years later, we feel obliged to deny Mark Twain's freedom of speech over something that was accepted in that time period. The use of the words in question does not greatly influence us in our own more-accepting society.

Zachary J. Szczesniak, eighth grader, Park Junior High School, La Grange Park

Racism in Chicago

As a young black man, living here can be a big challenge. Most of the issues I and many of my people face, such as finding decent housing, food, work and education, are all due to something that most people believe died out in the early 1960s. That problem is racism. Many black people in my community are subjected to constant judgment due to the color of their skin. It also seems as if media are also part of the problem. They act as if news only happens on the North Side of Chicago and that nothing happens where I live unless it is negative. It is increasingly hard for my people to find work, and our schools suffer great disadvantages in both supplies and curriculum advancements.

The city is still segregated. It may seem like people have a choice on where they live, but it just isn't that simple. Housing is unaffordable and because finding a job is hard due to the fact that we have to prove ourselves to both the people we work for and everyone based on how we look, moving has become a huge complication.

I know racism may have no cure. It is hard to change the way people think about one another. It is especially hard when people were raised to think a certain way about others. But I urge you to print a story about it. I may not have the answer, but someone out there may have it. The largest issue is that people don't even realize it is happening. We need to raise awareness about this issue. Help me make things better for the next generation.

Jeremey Johnson, student, TEAM Englewood High School, Chicago

Editing Twain

I believe that the censorship of Mark Twain's writing is wrong. His works show history, and whether we like it or not, that was the way things were in the 19th century.

The text is sacred, and only the author has the right to change his works.

Margaret G. Lynch, eighth grader, Park Junior High School, La Grange Park

Twain's words

I recently read "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" in my eighth-grade humanities class, and I do not agree with the censorship of these books. Changing these classic works of literature in a way the author didn't write them is an outrage. Censoring them takes away from Mark Twain's vernacular style of writing, which wasn't intended to be racist. It was intended to put readers in a context of history, and changing words takes away from the overall themes of the book.

No one would try to change Picasso's paintings, so why can someone change Twain's books?

Grace Flynn, eighth grader, Park Junior High School, La Grange Park

Adult responsibilities