Censorship Topic

I really cannot say I agree with one side or another when it comes to what should, and shouldn't be deemed inappropriate in creative writing classes, especially in high school. It all depends.

For example, that one student who wrote that status about killing a dinosaur with a gun was pretty ridiculous. Maybe if the student continuously wrote about guns and started being more extreme, then maybe the teacher should have started considering the complaint. It's common sense really, and unfortunately a lot of people do not have that.

There's always going to be that one teacher who does it out of fear, that one ignorant teacher who likes to ruin a student's reputation, and that one teacher who is bored out of his/her mind and decides to roll the dice for some fun. 

At the same time in today's day and age, a teacher is under so much pressure. One little comment or assignment taken the wrong way by the student -and their usually obnoxious parents- can end their entire career. So I guess some rather be safe than sorry, as topics that have to do with sexual or violent conduct can possibly jeopardize many things. 

However chances are low, and if you do think like this maybe you shouldn't be a teacher in the first place. You can't be sensitive and paranoid person with everyday people, let alone teenagers! Teenagers are the future generation, we are neither children nor adults; so we say and think some pretty crazy things but it's rarely something that initiates danger. 

Let's say a teacher reports a student; I believe that student's report should be kept as confidential as possible in case nothing really turns out to be wrong instead of ruining his or her reputation! 

For example, it was very mind boggling to read that a student in Brampton was not suspended, but expelled from his school during senior year! It is totally unjust to label a certain student as a total threat from a fictional essay, or anything fictional for that matter. Especially if it's a onetime thing... and it's a creative writing class. This probably caused him to suffer mentally; being seen as a danger after something he thought was pretty innocent, and to be ultimately deprived of his dreams. 

Freedom of speech is what makes our country, and western society so great. It forces people to be opened minded, and when situations like improper censorship occur then what does that make us? Phony citizens, with phony freedom rights. Opinions and creativity is what writing is all about. As long as a student isn't making direct statements like "rape should be legal" or "I stand with the terrorists" then teachers should try their best to take it easy. 

As a creative writing teacher in the first place, he or she should be opened minded, and expect stories with topics varying from all sorts of evils and goods. A creative writing class is simply not a creative writing class if censorship is involved in my opinion. I feel like classes like these (the arts), should have a degree of exception because of the nature of the classes. However without censorship it allows that one student to get too carried away.

 It's a double-edged sword!!!!! 

Comments

  1. Anonymous20 October 2017 at 10:52

    I agree! I think that it really depends on the situation which consequences should be taken into action, certain articles has completely ridiculous reactions to the subject matter at hand (talking about fictional dinosaurs), but I remember the one about the girl understanding why another student shot up the school which is a little bit concerning. Though unless actual action is taken for these matters, prevention is a difficult path to tread.

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