Yes, he's truly an eccentric teacher...

[iMacZealot]

I found this somewhat funny...these are some notes my honors english teacher passed out regarding the previous trimester:

....
2. You are three months older than you were at the beginning of the year. You should be three months more mature, more organised, and more responsible.
...
5. If you didn't enjoy any of the books we read last trimester, here are some question you should ask yourself:
>Have I purchased the book?
>Have I lost the book?
>Am I reading daily?
>Am I reading the novel or summaries at catcherye.com?
>Am I judging the book by its cover?
...
7. Keep arguing...it's fun.
...
11. I yell for one of three reasons: I'm angry, I'm excited, or half the class has fallen asleep.

We all thought it was funny. If you didn't, I guess that you had to be there...

[Plymouthbreezer]

I chuckled.

[Shotglass]

I thought it was funny. Are you reading Catcher in the Rhye?

[iMacZealot]

I thought it was funny. Are you reading Catcher in the Rhye?

Yeah, we already did, and he said that he had us read it at the end of the tri because it's the one book that everybody reads.

So far we've read about 3000 pages, which is more than I read in middle school. We started Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison today.

[nbs2]

So far we've read about 3000 pages, which is more than I read in middle school. We started Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison today.

If there ever was a book more overrated than Catcher in the Rye, it is <fill in the blank> by Toni Morrison. What a waste of paper. And yes, I did read both Song of Solomon and CitR and didn't judge them by their covers, but I have to admit that I wouldn't buy them even if someone gave me the money. ;)

[Daveman Deluxe]

...I wouldn't buy them even if someone gave me the money.

"I wouldn't pay for this kind of crap because even if I did somehow desperately need to lose money, I would just throw it off of a bridge."

[FredAkbar]

"I wouldn't pay for this kind of crap because even if I did somehow desperately need to lose money, I would just throw it off of a bridge."
Better money than rocks (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=392954).

[mactastic]

If there ever was a book more overrated than Catcher in the Rye, it is <fill in the blank> by Ayn Rand. What a waste of paper
There, fixed that for you! :p

[Daveman Deluxe]

Better money than rocks (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=392954).

Damn straight. :mad:

[Luis]

If there ever was a book more overrated than Catcher in the Rye, it is <fill in the blank> by Toni Morrison. What a waste of paper. And yes, I did read both Song of Solomon and CitR and didn't judge them by their covers, but I have to admit that I wouldn't buy them even if someone gave me the money. ;)

I concur with you on that Catcher in the Rye is totally overrated. However, I don't know about the other.

[ravenvii]

If there ever was a book more overrated than Catcher in the Rye ... but I have to admit that I wouldn't buy them even if someone gave me the money. ;)
I 100% agree with you. Catcher in the Rye is a stupid book about a whiny ***** of a boy. Seriously, Harold or whatever his name is (it's not even worth remembering), is the most pathetic piece of crap I've ever read about.
There, fixed that for you! :p
Sorry but I have to disagree. Anthem was brief and a bit superficial but it's an entertaining read, and The Fountainhead was awesome. If you replace "Ayn Rand" with, specifically, "Atlas Shrugged", then I might agree with you.

Nah, I won't. It's a way better read than Catcher in the Rye. Way.

[mactastic]

Sorry but I have to disagree. Anthem was brief and a bit superficial but it's an entertaining read, and The Fountainhead was awesome. If you replace "Ayn Rand" with, specifically, "Atlas Shrugged", then I might agree with you.

Nah, I won't. It's a way better read than Catcher in the Rye. Way.
Sorry but I have to disagree. Rand's crap is some of the worst "literature" I've ever had the displeasure to run across.

[EricNau]

Those who can't appreciate The Catcher in the Rye just don't understand it.

[psychofreak]

Those who can't appreciate The Catcher in the Rye just don't understand it.I liked it, I'm not so sure I 100% understood the supposedly deep meanings though...

[ravenvii]

Sorry but I have to disagree. Rand's crap is some of the worst "literature" I've ever had the displeasure to run across.
Those who can't appreciate the works of Ayn Rand just don't understand it.

;)

[Luis]

Those who can't appreciate The Catcher in the Rye just don't understand it.

The problem is that there isn't anything to understand. It's just a guy writing about random stuff, complaining about everything, and talking about remaining innocent and not wanting to grow up. It may have a meaning, but not a relevant one, to me atleast.

[zap2]

If there ever was a book more overrated than Catcher in the Rye,

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

LIES!

[EricNau]

The problem is that there isn't anything to understand. It's just a guy writing about random stuff, complaining about everything, and talking about remaining innocent and not wanting to grow up. It may have a meaning, but not a relevant one, to me atleast.
"People never notice anything." ...Guess what book that's from. ;)

[Luis]

"People never notice anything." ...Guess what book that's from. ;)
:p I notice a lot of things, but not that book.

[iMacZealot]

Catcher in the Rye killed John Lennon. :(

The one book I liked was The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien and A Prayer for Owen Meany. (the author's name escapes me)

I love Honors English. He gives us a topic, and we'll write a paragraph of our opinions in class, and then spend the rest of the period arguing. (Most of) the books are interesting, too.

[iMacZealot]

The problem is that there isn't anything to understand. It's just a guy writing about random stuff, complaining about everything, and talking about remaining innocent and not wanting to grow up. It may have a meaning, but not a relevant one, to me atleast.

It's a superficial book; there's nothing beyond the surface of it. It's a schizophrenic adolescent letting his schizophrenic mind run wild.

[EricNau]

It's a superficial book; there's nothing beyond the surface of it. It's a schizophrenic adolescent letting his schizophrenic mind run wild.
:eek: It's time to search for a better teacher...

[iMacZealot]

:eek: It's time to search for a better teacher...

I wouldn't really say that; he's a great teacher. I will recognize that CITR has an underlying theme of adolescent angst and loss of innocence, but it's just not quite as deep as the other books we've read. (I can't speak for Toni Morrison yet.)

[ravenvii]

The problem is that there isn't anything to understand. It's just a guy writing about random stuff, complaining about everything, and talking about remaining innocent and not wanting to grow up. It may have a meaning, but not a relevant one, to me atleast.

You are indeed aware.

Props.

[Luis]

You are indeed aware.

Props.

Thanks. You too ;)

[EricNau]

I wouldn't really say that; he's a great teacher. I will recognize that CITR has an underlying theme of adolescent angst and loss of innocence, but it's just not quite as deep as the other books we've read. (I can't speak for Toni Morrison yet.)
I can't speak about The Catcher in the Rye in comparison to the other books you've read, but I can assure you that it's a book full of very deep meaning.

[iMacZealot]

I can't speak about The Catcher in the Rye in comparison to the other books you've read, but I can assure you that it's a book full of very deep meaning.

This year we have read:

>The Known World
>A Prayer for Owen Meany
>The Grapes of Wrath
>Antigone
>Oedipus
>Midsummer Night's Dream
>Les Miserables
>Of Mice and Men
>The Things They Carried
>A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

..and I would say that Catcher in the Rye has the weakest meaning out of all of those works. I will agree that there's a theme in it albeit a weak one.

[Luis]

This year we have read:

>The Known World
>A Prayer for Owen Meany
>The Grapes of Wrath
>Antigone
>Oedipus
>Midsummer Night's Dream
>Les Miserables
>Of Mice and Men
>The Things They Carried
>A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

..and I would say that Catcher in the Rye has the weakest meaning out of all of those works. I will agree that there's a theme in it albeit a weak one.

Steinbeck FTW! Will you be reading East of Eden?

[iMacZealot]

Steinbeck FTW! Will you be reading East of Eden?

No, this trimester we're reading Song of Solomon, 1984, The Alchemist, In Cold Blood, Catch-22, and Life of Pi.

In this entire course, I will have read 6000 pages. That's about double of what I read in middle school.

[Luis]

No, this trimester we're reading Song of Solomon, 1984, The Alchemist, In Cold Blood, Catch-22, and Life of Pi.

Then I suggest you read it (if you haven't yet).

In this entire course, I will have read 6000 pages. That's about double of what I read in middle school.

Um, ok.

[iMacZealot]

Um, ok.

Yeah, well, my middle school english teacher only cared about diagramming sentences and I like reading. Though 6000 pages sound like nothing compared to AP English 4...

[dukebound85]

Yeah, well, my middle school english teacher only cared about diagramming sentences and I like reading. Though 6000 pages sound like nothing compared to AP English 4...

lol who keeps count of pages read? just find that amusing

i find reading to be fun. probably what has made me be nearsighted damnmit lol

[iMacZealot]

lol who keeps count of pages read? just find that amusing

i find reading to be fun. probably what has made me be nearsighted damnmit lol

He does. He also calculated the average cost of each class (it's something like $9.00). He's very anal retentive, too, such as how he marked me off for saying Ma Joad exhibits brotherly love "when she's a woman". :rolleyes:

[Berlepsch]

No, this trimester we're reading Song of Solomon, 1984, The Alchemist, In Cold Blood, Catch-22, and Life of Pi.

Sorry about the last one. Life of Pi was one of the few books that I stopped reading after the first chapter. The main character just got on my nerves.

[iSaint]

I found this somewhat funny...these are some notes my honors english teacher passed out regarding the previous trimester:

....
2. You are three months older than you were at the beginning of the year. You should be three months more mature, more organised, and more responsible.
...
5. If you didn't enjoy any of the books we read last trimester, here are some question you should ask yourself:
>Have I purchased the book?
>Have I lost the book?
>Am I reading daily?
>Am I reading the novel or summaries at catcherye.com?
>Am I judging the book by its cover?
...
7. Keep arguing...it's fun.
...
11. I yell for one of three reasons: I'm angry, I'm excited, or half the class has fallen asleep.

We all thought it was funny. If you didn't, I guess that you had to be there...

As an English teacher, I would love to see the full text of this handout.

Unfortunately, I am not teaching any higher level courses, so the discussions (arguing) mostly are not productive.

The one book I liked was The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien and A Prayer for Owen Meany. (the author's name escapes me)

John Irving wrote A Prayer for Owen Meany

[Lyle]

I found this somewhat funny...these are some notes my honors english teacher passed out regarding the previous trimester:He sounds like a great teacher -- reminds me a little bit of my 10th grade English teacher. Enjoy the class!

[nbs2]

If you replace "Ayn Rand" with, specifically, "Atlas Shrugged", then I might agree with you.

That makes me think of Officer Barbrady :) Memory tells me that it was Atlas Shrugged that he read - right?

Going back to CitR, any book that causes people to think that those who don't like it just "don't get it" is clearly on the overrated list.

Now to make some enemies - Les Mis is also on my overrated list, but this time because Hugo's inability to draw in the reader with his dull prose stands in such stark contrast to - well any other writer, including, but not limited to, Richard Scarry.

[Shotglass]

Catcher in the Rhye is way overrated, deep + meaningful, and superficial all at the same time. Overrated because of what nbs2 said, deep + meaningful because it does have a point about our phony (English class has made me hate that word) society, and superficial because the author is trying to sound like he's 17. It's nice when you can identify with the protagonist (which I could), but still, essentially the book is ****.

[mactastic]

Those who can't appreciate the works of Ayn Rand just don't understand it.

;)
Those who don't appreciate the works of Ayn Rand have matured past that level.

;)

[iMacZealot]

As an English teacher, I would love to see the full text of this handout.

Unfortunately, I am not teaching any higher level courses, so the discussions (arguing) mostly are not productive.



John Irving wrote A Prayer for Owen Meany

Those are the highlights there. Another one of his policies is that he will make you "take a walk" for ten minutes to calm yourself down, and if that doesn't work, he just tells you to leave (no detention or dean involved at all.) Also, if you don't bring your materials everyday, he also makes you leave and often tells you to "meet up with a senior on off-hour". :p


A lot of kids say that honors is so much easier than CP, but I think it's good to be able to have a constructive argument (well, most of them are constructive) and I like the fact that we're doing so much reading.

[MLeepson]

Your English class seems like a good one. So does your teacher. You're lucky, it's not that often you come across a good teacher.

I just finished Antigone last week in my World Studies (an English and history program) English class. We also read Gilgamesh (did not like that), and we're starting Night either this week or the next.

[iMacZealot]

Your English class seems like a good one. So does your teacher. You're lucky, it's not that often you come across a good teacher.

I just finished Antigone last week in my World Studies (an English and history program) English class. We also read Gilgamesh (did not like that), and we're starting Night either this week or the next.

I'd say that he's the best teacher I've had so far in my academic career (if you will). I'm so glad I'm in freshmen honors english.

I've heard about combining english and history together. That seems to be the trend. My friend, who goes to Denver School of the Arts, is in a course like that. How do you like it that way?

[MonksMac]

In all my years of school I have found that the English/Reading teachers are a bit more eccentric than the others I have had. On the subject of books, I cannot believe the number of books that I have to read this semester! (it is a one semester class,18 wks.) I have read three so far- Mythology (yawn!), Fahrenheit 451, and Anthem. I still have more to read! The Oddessey (halfway through), The Miracle Worker, and Jane Erye. I think that's all. I really wish that I had a teacher like yours, we don't argue nearly enough in my opinion. Honestly by the time you get to High School you really don't much of the grammar and sentence stuff, it really is just lots of reading and writing papers about various things. Well, for me anyway. Sorry for the long post.:o

[MonksMac]

Yes, I'm back again...
About Anthem: Honestly Anthem is not my favorite book, but I feel that is really does have some high points to it. When I was reading the book I could not help but to observe that some of the ideas and plans in the book somewhat parallels the direction our society is heading today. When I really thought about it after I was done it kind of chilled me to think that the future as outlined in Anthem is not impossible. That's just my opinion though and I know everyone does not agree with that and that is fine with me. That's just how I see it.:apple:

[AhmedFaisal]

I found this somewhat funny...these are some notes my honors english teacher passed out regarding the previous trimester:

....
2. You are three months older than you were at the beginning of the year. You should be three months more mature, more organised, and more responsible.
...
5. If you didn't enjoy any of the books we read last trimester, here are some question you should ask yourself:
>Have I purchased the book?
>Have I lost the book?
>Am I reading daily?
>Am I reading the novel or summaries at catcherye.com?
>Am I judging the book by its cover?
...
7. Keep arguing...it's fun.
...
11. I yell for one of three reasons: I'm angry, I'm excited, or half the class has fallen asleep.

We all thought it was funny. If you didn't, I guess that you had to be there...

Actually, I don't find the man eccentric. I actually am willing to believe he is one of the few educators left that actually give a **** about their job. It's reflected in most of these points. Damn, if kids these days actually read more, it might help reduce the shocking extent of lingual and grammatical atrocities to the language I see committed in forums these days.
The only part I argue is the purchasing part. Many books that are part of the curriculum I wouldn't want to own, so when I was in school, I spent a lot of time in the library to read them there.
I had a similar teacher in school, loved her to bits. She said exactly what your teacher said in point 7. If you hate the book, read it and argue with me about it. Tell me why you think it sucks. Make a concise point. I tore many authors she claimed to have loved to shreds in class in particular when I felt they were overly patronizing about morals. We had many a heated discussion. She often commented that I was a coldhearted cynic. I am actually. I was never popular in school, bullied heavily, until I had a growth spurt and started lifting and beat the snot out of anyone who started something. I still was unpopular, because I ripped into anyone who didn't have the stones to fight back against their tormentors. Which is why I hated most of her books, they were whiny. I told her. Life stinks, embrace it, deal with it, watch out for yourself, no one will help you or gives a **** about you other than your family (and those only do if you are lucky enough). She accepted that.
I still got top grades because I did what she wanted us to get out of it, being an engaged and actively thinking individual.
So, my point is, be grateful, there is few teachers like yours, and its a shame, truly.

[MLeepson]

I'd say that he's the best teacher I've had so far in my academic career (if you will). I'm so glad I'm in freshmen honors english.

I've heard about combining english and history together. That seems to be the trend. My friend, who goes to Denver School of the Arts, is in a course like that. How do you like it that way?

I'm a high school freshman and they treat the program as honors but they don't give out honors credit for the class (which is very annoying). In my history class we do a lot of writing along with the usual history and in my English class we do the normal essays and what-not along with studying world history. So far we only read Gilgamesh and Antigone. We're going to be reading Night, The Odyssey and some other books that I can't remember.
My school also offers (for upperclassmen) a program for people interested in a career in art and literature and another for health professions.

[maestro55]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/3B48b Safari/419.3)

I have always enjoyed fun instructors who are serious when needed and have a good time when a good time is needed. I have had several
instructors like this and I will never forget them.

As for Catcher In The Rye, I have read it twice and loved it both times. I don't understand it 100% but it seems very real to me.

[maestro55]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/3B48b Safari/419.3)

I have always enjoyed fun instructors who are serious when needed and have a good time when a good time is needed. I have had several
instructors like this and I will never forget them.

As for Catcher In The Rye, I have read it twice and loved it both times. I don't understand it 100% but it seems very real to me.