Teacher who read homoerotic Ginsberg poem in class resigns

Again, no one has claimed that "pornographic poetry" is a commonly used term to identify a genre of art. Several people have mentioned that this particular work of poetry happens to also be pornographic.

It isn't the word which is the problem. The word is the consequence of uninformed, uncritical thought. That is what concerns me.

Your insistence that "particular work of poetry happens to also be pornographic" shows me that you just don't get it. The judgement and evaluation that this poem is "not appropriate" determines the choice whether we call it pornographic or erotic. When we call something pornographic, we say that it is a private object whose aim is to sexually arouse and that is inappropriate for public consumption. When we call it erotic, we say that it uses sexual themes to convey its meaning and it can be appropriate for the highest, public temples of art like museums and theaters. The fact that you fail to appreciate this underlying subtext in the language calls into question your ability to make any meaningful judgment about poetry.

Change in terminology notwithstanding, of course, it's just as wildly inappropriate to require high school students to be in class where an extremely graphic, highly explicit description of a sex act is read aloud in front of the classroom.

If your goal is to foster uninformed, weak minded students incapable of critical thought or appreciating the subtleties of the English language, then I would wholeheartedly agree. I am not inclined to reduce our culture to the lowest common denominator and would prefer to engage the strength and maturity of students. Strong minds require training and therein rests the very purpose of education.

/r/education Thread Parent Link - cnn.com