English has been, and always will be, my favorite subject. And so far, i've liked all of my English teachers just fine. However, this year, I have had the misfortune of getting Mrs. Zurenda, the only A.P. English teacher. She understands literature just fine, however, there is one problem. She imposes her ideas and opinions on us. Virtually every piece of literature can be analyzed in many different ways, and can have various meanings and themes. However, she chooses what SHE believes the said story or poem is about, and we are tested based on this. Her tests have questions where there are a few different interpretations of a part of the story in the answers, and it inquires as to which of the interpretations are right. We are supposed to choose the one that SHE chose, not any of the other ones.
She does the same things with essays. If she does not agree with an idea, then she takes points off. If She doesn't like your writing style, she tells you how you SHOULD do it and takes points off, telling you to do it her way the next time. For example, I have always written my introductory paragraphs a certain way. I believe that the introduction is the most important part of the essay because it is where you capture the readers attention and present your thesis. I elude into the thesis in a neat way, by starting off with something else that releates to it. For instance, a quote, or background information. I then give my thesis. All of my past english teachers have praised this method, saying that they liked the way that I didn't just blandly state my thesis and then move on, I captured their attention from the beginning. But according to Mrs. Zurenda, this is all uneccesary and needs to be cut out. I should state my thesis only, and not give what she calls "pointless information" (even though it directly relates to the thesis every time.)
I have never had to deal with this sort of thing before, and it is driving me CRAZY. I hate being told what to think, how to interpret literature, and most of all, how to write. This woman has no right to impose her opinions on us and make us think how she thinks. However, no one in my class seems as bothered by this as me. They actually like it because she basically tells you what to do to get a good grade in her class. As long as you do what she says and think how she thinks and write how she tells you to write, you'll ace the class. Therefore, I am alone in my misery. I am not quite sure how to deal with this. I very well COULD keep writing my essays the way I want to and interpret literature based on MY opinions, however, I would very much like to pass this class. I guess the only thing I can do is endure this for a year with my mouth shut (as well as my mind), and hope that I don't lose my passion for writing, or more importantly, my writing personality and sense of individuality.
The sad thing is that there are too many stories, too many teachers, too many leaders and celebrities and parents and friends, who are exactly like this. They tell us what to think and how to act, and we niavely follow, and gladly, at that. Why is this true? Is it human nature? Do we yearn for acceptance in society, thereby forgoing our individuality to blend in and be one of the crowd? How far would we go just to be accepted by our peers? Would we wear the right shoes? Say the right things? Tease the nerds? Do the drugs? Drink the alcohol? So many people gladly follow everything that they are "supposed" to do, trying to be accepted, but only becoming lost in the crowd, never thought of again.
