Hi everyone,
I hope you had a terrific summer! Welcome to your Junior year, and our mutual exploration of American Literature. I'm excited to welcome you to this adventure! I know that sounds corny, but it really is an adventure to learn...at least, it's always been that way for me. I hope it will be for you, as well. Last year, I spent time thinking and learning, and part of that had to do with the idea of being "American": What does that mean? Why do so many millions of people around the world long for the kinds of freedoms and opportunities we so often take for granted because we've enjoyed them without thinking about them all our lives? How did those ideas get started? Who shaped those ideas? Why have so many risked or lost their lives for America in the over 200 years of our history? Why is it important to consider such ideas when you're sixteen or seventeen years old? Is it enough that the Lincoln School Department says you should? (I don't think that's enough, either!) We'll start the year off with the Summer Reading test, and then a project that will get us started about the idea of "being American." Then, in the spirit of making the American ideal really live in our classroom, I want your views on how we will approach the study of the literature this year. Seriously. There are innumerable ways we can interact with each other, the texts, and the ideas, and I don't want to be the only one who has a say in deciding that, since I really do believe in the wisdom and beauty of "many voices, one song." Please think of and use this space as an opportunity for growth: nobody has all the answers, but all of us together can go to places we'd never have gotten to visit on our own. And that can be quite an adventure. Welcome aboard! : )
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KimD
ReplyDeleteDuring class we discussed the relationship of puritans and realist to present day. What came to my mind was how realist are like people that have a high passion for recycling they are doing it for the good of all because it is proven that if we don't take care of our planet it won't be around for us later on. They aren't doing it for religion they are doing it just because it is the right thing to do.
Where the puritans believed in doing something only if it will help them to salvation. Which is a sad way of looking at the world and is very short sighted view of the world.
What do you think of the possible connection between the religious view of ecology and the secular/rationalist/"scientific" one? Could it be that, particularly in the example you mention about caring for the earth, that someone could view recycling as BOTH "God-mandated/inspired" as well as "reasonable"????
ReplyDeleteKimD
ReplyDeleteI think it is possible that someone could view recycling as both god mandated and reasonable, but I believe most people that recycle don't view what they are doing as "God-mandated". It seems that our society has become more secular in there views since the days of the puritans.