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Appropriate
Language Issue
TO: Teachers & Educators
FR: AAA Director/author Steve Alten
REF: The issue of "appropriate language".
One of the questions I get asked at teacher seminars is whether
there have ever been any problems with using my novels in
school because of the occasional curse word. While most of
he so-called "classics" share these words, and I
have seen one school district decide against using the program
for this reason, I have never heard of a problem in dealing
with the issue.
When I wrote these novels, I was not attempting to cater
to schools, I was trying to write a realistic thriller. As
such, when I place a character in front of a hungry 70-foot
shark, he or she may use a four-letter word to express their
fear. ("Holy Moses" just didn't work.) None of the
books go very far with it, and once I wrote my 3rd novel,
Domain, (once the Adopt-An-Author program began) I cut back.
Here's what will happen with your students:
They'll giggle. Get excited. They have just received forbidden
fruit, and reading just became "cool." By the third
curse word, they won't even care. (It's not like they haven't
heard it everyday). Just as slang is part of our society,
so is foul language. This is not an excuse, simply fact. Turn
on the TV after 8 PM and you'll find far heavier sexual innuendo
and violence than appears in any of my novels. And there is
far more science and research in my work than curse words.
More important, your students will READ (and finish) these
books. Quickly! Some teachers feel more comfortable by simply
addressing the issue with parents before they begin the unit.
Below is a sample letter to parents. Feel free to incorporate
it any way you wish. Last - there is always an exception to
every rule. As such, if you ever come across a parent that
has a problem with the language, feel free to have them e-mail
me at Meg82159@aol.com I will reply quickly, professionally,
and in a way that "sells" the program for you.
Sincerely,
Steve Alten, Ed.D.
SAMPLE LETTER TO PARENTS
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Dear Parents :
I am excited to announce that our classes will
be involved in an exciting new reading unit called
Adopt-An-Author which places students in direct
communication with best-selling authors, in this
instance author Steve Alten. You can review Mr.
Alten's work at his website: www.SteveAlten.com
Mr. Alten's novels are fast-paced thrillers filled
with action and science. His first novel, MEG,
a N.Y. Times best-seller, was named the #1 book
for reluctant readers by the Young Adult Library
Services Association. Besides the science, the
novels do incorporate the occasional "curse
word." If this presents a problem, please
let me know.
We invite you to read the novel along with your
student as well as communicate with the author,
whose personal e-mail is listed on the home page
of his website. You will find him very accessible
and he always welcomes feedback.
Sincerely,
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