One of the summer projects I have as a
homeschooling mom is to preread a few key books my daughter has
scheduled for her curriculum. In the elementary years, our literary
adventures were a pleasure romp—wonderful stories of kids living in
other places and times, biographies that inspired us, gripping
mysteries that we couldn't lay down until we finished.
But with each passing year, I've had to
be more attentive to screening out titles that I think would not be
good for her, not in line what our aims are for her education,
character development, and spiritual growth. When she was little,
she would have nightmares for weeks after seeing something as
innocuous as “Willie Wonka” or a good old World War II movie.
I realize that every child is different
in their development, tolerances, and so on, and thus, we shape our
curricula choices to that. And admittedly, my student is on the
conservative side and I'm aware of the impact of troubling material
on her.
But with the advent of high school and
the prevailing pressure to get a “well-rounded” education, to be
college-prepped and whatever else, I've thought that she needs to
read the literature “greats” and delve deeper into the works that
have shaped our world.
And yes, I still think some of that is
important. Some.
I took up The Great Gatsby to
preread, and, not having ever read it, was really primed for a true
literary experience. I'd read all sorts of comments from Christian
homeschool reviewers, from positive to glowing—one even declared it
to be her favorite book. It appears on most recommended homeschool
book lists. According to secular reviews, it apparently stands at
the pinnacle of great writing and example of “the best.” One
even claimed it to be the quintessential American novel.
Huh? Am I missing something?
It's a story that serves a buffet of
pitiful and not very original destruction and despair of man without
God. Lust, adultery, betrayal, materialism, selfishness, murder,
disillusionment, alcoholism, cheating, strange alliances...the list
goes on. Maybe that was the author's point; indeed, the reviewers
pointed out that this was a compelling picture of the Roaring 20s.
Maybe the writing was excellent; I really did savor the author's
mastery of words. But the lack of redemption—that element which
makes story, story—was missing.
I'm using Gatsby as
an example here; there are many books that fall under this type of
writing. But I'd like to ask a question. Why do we read
things like this? As a Christian, how does this line up with the
command in the Bible
to “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (I Thessalonians 5:22) Or how about: “Have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is
shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in
secret.” (Ephesians 5:11, 12). To consider ourselves or our
students as not “well-educated,” not able to really understand
the true issues at work behind the human experience if we don't
explore such books, is, in my opinion, unthinking. Is this
education? We're not supposed to be determining our values and creed
from other people's views or experience, even if it comes cloaked in
fine writing or compelling story.
I think the emperor has no clothes on.
Did you know that the Bible says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20) Pretty stiff words. And yet I'm really
concerned that by just accepting a book—or anything, for that
matter—touted as “good” or “great” even from a trusted
source, we may be failing to discern what really IS good and evil.
I can see plenty of destruction and its
analysis in a daily dose on the news, if it's understanding about the
depravity of man I want. (And I say, “there's nothing new under
the sun”!)
Rather, there's a lifetime of good
reading available out there—classic literature—that challenges
us, changes us, and calls us to higher places. Is this not what we
want for our children? I think time is too short to be spending it
on things that don't have lasting value by Kingdom standards. Yes, I
want my daughter to have a good education. Yes, I want her to be
prepared to deal with the difficult and challenging world out there.
But it seems to me that this is done by growing her mind and spirit
on the good food of goodness. A diet of darkness produces darkness.
So I've been challenged to reexamine
our “diet” and see how I can do a better job of evaluating it
based on the overlay of God's standard. My student will not be
reading Gatsby or others like
it in our school, and I'll be searching for some more of that
life-changing good stuff.
