Teacher: I Don't Like Shakespeare Because He's White

[KarateCowboy]

http://dailycaller.com/2015/06/14/teacher-i-dont-teach-shakespeare-because-hes-white/

... Dusbiber says that minority students, like those who dominate her own classroom, deserve to study their own cultures rather than being exposed to “Eurocentrism.” But at the same time, she takes the exact opposite position for whites, saying school should be a place for them to explore cultures other than their own.

 

[nightflight]

So she looks at it from a purely racial angle; therefore she is a racist.

 

[ChristsSoldier115]

Their own culture? I guess they should only read american playwrights?

 

[Sistrin]

So she looks at it from a purely racial angle; therefore she is a racist.

Agreed. In addition I doubt she fully comprehends or understands Shakespeare.

 

[KarateCowboy]

Agreed. In addition I doubt she fully comprehends or understands Shakespeare.

Apropo:
Despite holding an English degree and describing herself as voracious reader, Dusbiber’s desire to purge the dusty old Bard from her classroom is partly based on her own difficulties reading him. She confesses that she has a “personal disinterest in reading stories written in an early form of the English language that I cannot always easily navigate.”

 

[MehGuy]

I've heard from some tumblr SJWs that Shakespeare might have actually been black.

Huh? Huh? Something to think about..

 

[KarateCowboy]

Their own culture? I guess they should only read american playwrights?

The USA is an Anglophone culture, descended from England. We get much of our law and culture from them. Just a reminder: you wrote that in English. Hence, Shakespeare is at the foundations of our culture just as much as the English. Nevertheless, every American student should be deeply familiar with the writings of Robert Frost and John Steinbeck.

 

[Cearbhall]

I mean, I would think that there's plenty of time to cover Shakespeare and the literary histories of various other cultures by the time a child graduates from high school. I don't see how they're at odds.

Also, she says:

Dusbiber says he only is regarded that way because “some white people” ordained it

But even if it were true that this is the only reason, it would still be a reason why they need to study him. He's uniquely significant.

 

[KarateCowboy]

I mean, I would think that there's plenty of time to cover Shakespeare and the literary histories of various other cultures by the time a child graduates from high school. I don't see how they're at odds.

When I was in high school we also covered some translated Russian and French works. So you're right about that. One funny thing from the article: the teacher claimed that 'plenty' of students are immersed in the literary traditions of Africa. That's pretty hilarious, because I doubt one in a hundred could even name a language spoken in Africa, much less read in it.

 

[ChristsSoldier115]

The USA is an Anglophone culture, descended from England. We get much of our law and culture from them. Just a reminder: you wrote that in English. Hence, Shakespeare is at the foundations of our culture just as much as the English. Nevertheless, every American student should be deeply familiar with the writings of Robert Frost and John Steinbeck.

Yeah..descended from, not of.

it is pretty obvious our culture is different from english culture. Ask any CF user from the UK.

 

[Cearbhall]

Yeah..descended from, not of.

it is pretty obvious our culture is different from english culture. Ask any CF user from the UK.

Yes, it's been over 300 years and we've experienced many waves of immigration from around the globe. However, the foundations of our nation are more closely connected to England than any other country. We speak English, the country started with a collection of English colonies, we retained English common law...

 

[ChristsSoldier115]

Yes, it's been over 300 years and we've experienced many waves of immigration from around the globe. However, the foundations of our nation are more closely connected to England than any other country.

I am not arguing that england influenced our country. I am arguing that our culture is not english anymore. A good portion of the country speaks the language.

 

[Cearbhall]

I am arguing that our culture is not english anymore. A good portion of the country speaks the language.

It's debatable to what extent our culture is still English, but I agree that we at least have plenty of pockets of other cultural influences, and that these should be represented in a school curriculum.

 

[keith99]

When I was in high school we also covered some translated Russian and French works. So you're right about that. One funny thing from the article: the teacher claimed that 'plenty' of students are immersed in the literary traditions of Africa. That's pretty hilarious, because I doubt one in a hundred could even name a language spoken in Africa, much less read in it.

Afrikaans!

And I just might be able to puzzle out a few sentences considering its roots! (Which of course are in Europe).

 

[SuperCloud]

I've read one or two things from Shakespeare. Only at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Never in Catholic grade school or Catholic high school.

I also read "A Raisin in the Sun" and watched the old flick with Sydney P. in a English course at MATC. This would be an American classic I guess... and reflects some of the history of Black-America.

Honestly, I don't care for most European literature dating back some centuries. Shakespeare is cool though. But he had a deep mind. I tried reading a book by that famous French Jewish [pederast--but that was cool back then I guess] Proust. Okay, talk about sheer torture. No thanks.

I really don't see much the need in reading all these old dudes from Europe. Okay, you won't be worse off for it. But I don't see the need.

(By the way... I don't know how to saddle up and ride a horse either.)

 

[keith99]

Is Dumas Ok with her?

 

[Catherineanne]

The USA is an Anglophone culture, descended from England. We get much of our law and culture from them. Just a reminder: you wrote that in English. Hence, Shakespeare is at the foundations of our culture just as much as the English. Nevertheless, every American student should be deeply familiar with the writings of Robert Frost and John Steinbeck.

Students in the UK should (and do) read Frost and Steinbeck too.

 

[Catherineanne]

Yes, it's been over 300 years and we've experienced many waves of immigration from around the globe. However, the foundations of our nation are more closely connected to England than any other country. We speak English, the country started with a collection of English colonies, we retained English common law...

England/the UK and the US retained close connections during those 300 years; it isn't as if we split and never spoke again.

 

[Catherineanne]

http://dailycaller.com/2015/06/14/teacher-i-dont-teach-shakespeare-because-hes-white/

... Dusbiber says that minority students, like those who dominate her own classroom, deserve to study their own cultures rather than being exposed to “Eurocentrism.” But at the same time, she takes the exact opposite position for whites, saying school should be a place for them to explore cultures other than their own.

Fast forward 100 years; this teacher will be forgotten, and Shakespeare will still be being taught, read, watched and loved by millions. The language difference between Elizabethan and New English is easily overcome by watching productions on the stage/film before attempting to read them.

 

[HonestTruth]

http://dailycaller.com/2015/06/14/teacher-i-dont-teach-shakespeare-because-hes-white/

... Dusbiber says that minority students, like those who dominate her own classroom, deserve to study their own cultures rather than being exposed to “Eurocentrism.” But at the same time, she takes the exact opposite position for whites, saying school should be a place for them to explore cultures other than their own.

Where in that video does she specifically say she will not teach Shakespeare because he is white?

According to the article she voices objection to Americans using a Eurocentric course of study while neglecting African or other studies. She is seeking a more expansive course for her students which will benefit them in the long run.