NYC Educator: Updating Mark Twain

NYC Educator: Updating Mark Twain

Updating Mark Twain

by NYC Educator

I'm fascinated by the discussion about cutting choice words fromHuckleberry Finn. I've never taught it, but I have taught Of Mice and Men, which uses racial epithets. I explained them the best I could, and placed them in context. However, I teach kids from other countries, and decided I did not wish to be the person who introduces them to such vocabulary. That may be irresponsible on my part, but I don't care. I find such language distasteful, and I don't much like explaining why it's used. I never taught it again, and don't plan to.

Actually, I don't much like this sort of language. Dickens, beautiful and