

Walters: Will big changes shape up California schools?ĭistrict staffers also recommended that teachers collaborate with the Educational Services Division 7-12 support team when using the novel “to establish an optimal environmental in which students can address controversial and uncomfortable content,” “design student experiences most appropriate to meet instructional objectives” and “effectively address any student and/or parent concerns. In her novel The Bluest Eye the unfortunate situations and experiences in which Toni Morrison places her characters force readers to place themselves in the. San Lorenzo Valley teacher allowed to resign after sexual misconduct allegationsĮditorial: COVID-19 vaccine for kids age 5 to 11 could be a lifesaver Riverside teacher placed on leave after video mimicking Native Americans goes viral The central theme that has been apparent in the story is the desire of Pecola to have white skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes. They said it: Dealing with teacher absences, shortage of substitutes The literary piece The Bluest Eye, written by Toni Morrison and published in circa 1970, has centered on the story of an eleven-year-old female character, Pecola Breedlove (Foerstel, 2002). Set in Ohio in the 1940s, Morrison’s novel follows an African American girl, Pecola Breedlove, who believes her life of abuse, loneliness and racism would be better if she had blue eyes.Īccording to a staff report prepared for Colton school board members, “The Bluest Eye” was recommended only for 11th and 12th grade AP English Literature students “as it is an important contemporary novel with timeless universal themes and rich literary and artistic merit.” Related Articles Toni Morrisons first novel The Bluest Eye (1970) depicts the hideous effects of Euro-American discourse presented by various media on the life of African. Typically an innocuous vote every three to five years to approve an assortment of books teachers can assign in English Language Arts classes, removing “The Bluest Eye” from the list was broached after parents emailed board members ahead of Thursday’s meeting with concerns over the novel’s depiction of pedophilia and sexual violence – topics that have prompted districts around the country to ban the book from schools and libraries. I felt that the book should remain an option for upper level classes with an interest in tackling such a complex piece of literature.” “While I respect the decision of the board,” Flores said Monday, “I’m disappointed to see the book removed from our reading list. That being said, this was still a wonderful novel, and I could certainly feel her. I doubt that anything else she has written can live up to that expectation. Having read her famous novel, Beloved, first, I think Ive been somewhat ruined for her.

California school district removes Toni Morrison's ‘The Bluest Eye’ from classroom reading list after parents complain This is the first of the novels by Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison.
