Every quarter without fail, at least two or three of my students will write their book report about Dave Pelzer's book, A Child Called It. Most teachers wouldn't mind reading about his book, but I simply can not. I used to have his books in my "to read" stack, but I couldn't bring myself to read them. I gave them away.
I think that anytime a survivor of childhood abuse writes about their abuse and exposes their abusers, it is a positive step in their healing, but I can't bear to read about the details. I know first hand that abuse hurts and that it damages the soul and the body. I don't need to read the details of the abuse of another person to know this.
That being said, I wouldn't want anyone to think that these types of books should not be published. There is tremendous value in abuse memoirs. Books like Pelzer's help educate the public to be more aware of the possibility of abuse. He helps us help children who do not have a voice.
As a teacher, I don't tell my students they can't do reports on Pelzer's books, but I can't read those reports. I asked my husband if he wanted to grade them for me, but he declined, so instead I grade based on the first paragraph and call it done. Maybe next year, I'll ask my students not to write about Pelzer's books - or maybe I won't say a word. I don't want to discourage them from reading his work.
Story Time – Part Two
7 years ago
4 comments:
Hi Mom, I'd be more than willing to grade them for you. Let me know :) Hugs.
Love you,
Rose
I've read this book. And was hard to absorb.
It left me feeling "unclean". Angry at the abuser,
the people who obviously knew and did nothing
and the system that took so long to acknowledge
it. It's hard for me to suggest it as reading
material unless someone asks. Then I will tell them about how I reacted to it.
I was going to suggest one of your daughters but
I see one has already stepped up. Thank you
Rose. That was a huge offer.
hug, **
I was going to say that I could try to for you too Mom. Love you
Elizabeth
This book (It) was required reading in our school system a couple of years back ... my friend's children had to read it. I homeschool, and thankfully my kids are unaware of it's existence. I, and enough other children have suffered through abused childhoods ... I see no value in forcing a child who has had no abuse to have their face rubbed in another's. This is a tragedy in its own right.
Post a Comment