My students need copies of American War: a Novel in order for me to teach a unit in which students explore the impact political systems, war, and the desire for revenge have on an individual.
I have the joy and privilege of teaching 10th grade students in the School District of Philadelphia. Although we are a title I school with a high poverty rate, we have an excellent matriculation and college acceptance rate. Our students are passionate, intelligent, inquisitive, and empathetic citizens. They have a budding political and social awareness and a keen desire to tackle hard problems.
In my 10th grade English class, our year long theme is systems.
When designing my curriculum, I select texts that allow us to consider the systems around us - how they were defined and created, how they are maintained, and how they impact us and are impacted by us. It is my hope that through engaging with the texts we read, my students will not only be passionate readers and strong critical thinkers, but that they will also be inspired to impact the challenges facing our society today and find meaningful solutions.
My Project
It is a special joy as a teacher when you experience the power of teaching a text that is relevant to students' lives in multiple ways. When I read American War: a Novel for my own personal reading, I couldn't subdue the multitude of discussion questions that arose and my great eagerness to ask these questions to my students: What happens when an individual disagrees with a country's rationale for war? What impact will global warming and the scarcity of energy sources and other resources have on us in the future? Can you lead a normal life after facing severe trauma? What toll does the desire for revenge have on the individual?
Adding this American War: a Novel to my curriculum would powerfully enhance my English 10 course, which focuses on the impact of systems.
I know that if I am able to raise funds for this project it will be extremely meaningful and thought-provoking to my students. In addition to analytical writing and powerful discussions, I would culminate this unit by having students write their own dystopian stories.
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