Students join The Big Read debate

Published on Wednesday, October 1, 2008 12:04 PM MST

Dear Editor:

We have read with interest the letters about “Bless Me, Ultima,” and we feel it is time for students to have a voice in the debate. Many of us participated in The Big Read last school year as juniors. One thing we learned from “Fahrenheit 451” is this: Keeping books from a culture removes the culture.

As teenagers, we are exposed to movies, television, graphic video games and novels that contain vulgar language and objectionable social situations. Not only are these things part of the media culture in our society today, they are a part of our everyday lives. So sheltering us from a nationally acclaimed book just because it contains a few pages of vulgarity seems pointless.

We simply can’t pretend the world isn’t the way it is. At least by reading “Bless Me” in the controlled environment of a high school English class, we can learn from the life experiences of the characters and explore its themes and symbolism as the author intended. We are reading this book to learn, and the good outweighs the bad. Besides, anyone who reads “Bless Me” will understand more about the Hispanic heritage that is such a huge part of southeastern Arizona.

We as a class chose to participate in The Big Read this year, and we look forward to the truths and life lessons that Ultima and Antonio will teach us as we read “Bless Me, Ultima.” We hope to learn what Antonio learned: “Sometimes it takes a lifetime to acquire understanding because, in the end, understanding simply means having a sympathy for people.”

Senior English class

Gila Preparatory Academy

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Comments

7 comment(s)

READ IT LOVED IT wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:18 PM:

" What is all of the fuss about? This book is really quite good. But then you wouldn't want you kids to get to be to worldy even though they are of this world........... Lighten up People it's a book. Just take pleasure in reading. "

anonymous wrote on Oct 10, 2008 3:49 PM:

" Ps:

SE Hinton wrote "The Outsiders" in her late teens. "

anonymous wrote on Oct 8, 2008 4:26 PM:

" Thank you, very well spoken.

And teenagers can't handle this book? "

Just read the book wrote on Oct 3, 2008 8:24 PM:

" I just this week finished reading Bless me Ultima, and I am yet trying to figure out what Mrs. Clonts was so upset about and then the other bloggers that had negative things to say about the book. I did not know all the terms that were in Mexican but I could guess at there meaning. I have been on Thatcher school grounds and heard worse talk from 3rd graders. One day I overheard a statement and asked where did you hear that and innocent little eyes looked up at me saying ..."my mom." Enough said. "

I LOVE READING wrote on Oct 2, 2008 8:26 PM:

" SUPER !!!!!!!!!!!!! VERY WELL SAID! "

concerned wrote on Oct 2, 2008 2:08 PM:

" HERE HERE....way to go.. Gila Prep!
Thinking for yourselves...BRAVO "

The Reader wrote on Oct 1, 2008 7:34 PM:

" It seems there is hope for the future after all! Good show Gila Prep "

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