A run in with the Thought Police..... (Page 1 of 2)

I am a grand parent to two 14 year old girls. They spend most summers with us and are very bright kids. We enrolled them in a summer reading program at our local library which groups kids by age and assists them with required reading for the upcoming school year. The program hires English teachers for the summer in that the libraries aren't staffed sufficiently. The students are asked to read a book every two weeks and then attend a two hour discussion or review session. I saw the books and authors involved and it's the same old list of the same old stuff. Funny how the list never changes. Toffler, Huxley and Arthur Miller to name a few. I have over time , spoonful by spoonful , addressed with my grandaughters the need for a more discerning eye to  things presented to us in school. These books are really only harmful , like a gun, when they're not handled with some degree of supervision.
  Well, I had to pick them up this past week from their review session and had gotten there early because of running a few errands in the area. The instuctor is a teacher from the school the girls will be attending next year. She is a lady in her 50's who sounded to be from Mass. , with her haahd R's. I introduced myself and sat in the back of the class. The two books under discussion were  Brave New World and Tale of Two Cities. With about ten minutes to go the instuctor , probably having exhausted her load on these two books , turned to me and said that she knows that ,like all kids in school , I must have read these books and would I like to say a few words about them. I raised both hands in a rebuffing fashion only for one of my grandaughters to chime in with, "C'mon Papa, it will be fun", then turning to another child in the group saying "he won money on a game show once". With that statement now the kids are all egging me on as if having the 'Goodson/Toddman' stamp to approval. As I walked up to the front of the class I kept flashing on Rene Magritte's work. Probably a subtle reflection of the surreal nature of the moment. Would I open the pen and let the sheep run free or would I just add  the expected regurgitated drivel.? I can't embassrass my grandaughters, they don't deserve that. My dilemma was furthered when I looked into the eyes of these kids and saw a very bright and eager group awaiting my 2 cents. "Well", I said ."These are both important works, I'll address Brave New World , in that, I remember more of it". "I believe we can learn a great deal from all important works of art which are held up in our culture, these two books being no different". "It's important to understand that nearly all great works were and are brought about through commissioned efforts." I said. I gave a quick glance to the teacher who as yet seemed undettered by my comment."Michelangelo, Rafael, Mozart up to Andy Warhol and the like were all paid typically up front for most of the work they did and these authors are no different."'It's as important to read between the lines of these works as it is the text itself" I insisted."Mr. Huxley was a sociologist first and author second, who worked for the Royal Institute of International Affairs a wing of the British Military Intelligence in London". At that second the teacher said, "Well , I'm affraid that's really all we have time for and it's time to gather your things and follow me to the lobby". She turned to me with a severely glazed over restrained look. We all meandered to the lobby and were prepared to depart when the teacher asked if she could have a word with me.'Sure', I said and followed her away from earshot of the group." I don't appreciate what you did back there", she said. "You denigrate these great authors by claiming that someone paid them to write these masterpieces, that is very unfair to these children and the school system in general". I said,"Almost every artist in the past who met with success while still alive fell into favor with the crown or church and was a commissioned conveyor of images and ideas". She was now in mental overload and had no retort. She took a deep breath , rebooting-like, and said,"I don't want you or your grandaughters back in this program, in fact,  I can make things difficult for them next year at Yadayada High." "Madame", I said."You asked me to say something, if the truth is too much to bear then it confirms my opinion that the school system isn't a place for discernment or freewill"."There are other schools and other teachers and it looks as though it's time to seek them out, Good day". I got back in the car and informed the girls that we wouldn't be participating in the reading program any longer.That was met with a sheepish ,"awe" only to see them quietly high five each other in the rear view mirror five seconds later. A fleeting attempt, but an attempt!