Overreaction

"Education is a method whereby one acquires a higher grade of prejudices." ~ Laurence J. Peter

Recently I received an e-mail from one of my son's teachers updating me on an assignment he was supposed to be doing. The assignment is a book report but, according to the teacher, it is something more than a mere book report. After reading the assignment, I don't see the difference.

I knew nothing about this assignment before I got the e-mail, but my son had asked me previously to go rent Mel Gibson's movie, "Man Without a Face". I've seen that movie and I couldn't for the life of me understand why he would want to see that movie specifically. Putting two and two together it became clear why. He has to make his report on the book the film is based upon, and he doesn't want to go to the trouble of actually reading it.

I like to read, and it troubles me that he doesn't, but nevertheless, I decided to do some research into the book in question to see if I could help him somewhat with his assignment since it is very important in regards to his final grade, and I don't want him to fail.

This is what I found:

From Wikipedia: "The Man Without a Face is a 1993 drama starring and directed by Mel Gibson. The movie is based on Isabelle Holland's 1972 novel. Most critics were impressed with what was Gibson's directing debut, but noted that the book's criticism of homophobia had been obscured in the film version."

"The book's criticism of homophobia?" Red flags going up now. Is my son's teacher pushing a politically correct agenda on his students? Is he attempting to indoctrinate my son and his peers with an inappropriate subject, one in which no one but the parents have any business delving into? Is he trying to normalize a decadent lifestyle, or worse still, to make my son gay?

I will not stand for that!

I was preparing for a fight with the school, and the school system, and ultimately with the state itself. I envisioned angry letters to the editor of the local newspaper. National news media picking up the story and creating a major controversy. Possibly an appearance on The Today Show, Larry King, Hannity and Colmes, etc. A precedence setting lawsuit. Or Two. Or three. Fame, wealth, and all the accoutrements.

No one has the right to cram their own values (or lack of them) down my son's throat without my approval. I do not want my son being taught what to think. I want him to be taught how to think.

Oh, The outrage!

So, when I spoke to my son about this later, I asked him, "Did the teacher assign this book to you, or did you choose it yourself?"

His answer? "He took us to the library and told us to pick a book to write about".

"So you chose to read this book?" I asked, my hopes for notoriety fading quickly, "He had no part in your decision of which book to read?"

"No", he answered, "I picked it out myself".

The next words out of my mouth?

"Well, you can't make your report from the movie. The movie doesn't make the major point of the book. You'll have to read the book."

And he'd better, too. If he doesn't, I'll kick his you-know-what.