Sometimes teaching English is harder than one might think. It is not for the typical reasons like grading essays and collecting homework, but for other reasons. Sometimes reading a text can be difficult because not all stories have a fairytale ending. Sometimes the works that we cover in English class don’t always end with the protagonist winning. Not every story ends in a handshake of friendship, a pat on the back for job well done, or a ride off into the sunset. Sometimes the stories that we read can be heartbreaking.
Once, after a particularly tough couple of novels, a student complained to me, “Mrs. Happe, how come everything we read this year has been depressing?” The student was absolutely right. We read about bloody revolutions, brutal governments, social injustices, and dreadful deaths. I thought for a moment and explained to the student that often times when people are faced with the most dreadful situations, they show kindness, courage, and compassion. In other words, when people are facing the worst that life has to offer, they are at their best.
We have already seen examples of this in the literature that we read this year. Ha and her family overcame the terrors or war, the loss of their cherished country, and the death of their beloved father but fought for a new place to call home and a bright future for the family. The Logan family also experienced the loss of their land, poverty, and the cruelty of others but stood up against racial inequality and hatred in their Mississippi community. But in both of these texts, the characters demonstrated true bravery, determination, and resilience, even in the most frightful circumstances.
This is certainly true for our next piece, The Diary of Anne Frank. As we read together, it will be challenging because we will be witness to one of the most poignant and tragic time periods in history. Many of you have already contributed to an ongoing dialogue by making insightful comments and asking important questions. Many of you have also enthusiastically volunteered to take on these often difficult roles in the play, and I thank you for this. Your efforts make this arduous reading a bit easier.
In the beginning of our play, the protagonist Anne is the same age as many of you are today. Throughout the reading, we will watch her grow as a person as she experiences joy, hope, misfortune, and terror. But remember, all is not lost because in these most desperate times, we also see Anne’s fortitude, spirit, strength, and compassion. Her father, Otto, had the diary published so that others could learn from Anne’s heartrending experiences, and I hope you take her message of hope with you beyond the walls of our classroom.
