Rewriting the Literary Canon: Teaching for Equity and Empowerment in the ELA Classroom

 Dearest Gentle Teachers, 

Within the ever-evolving landscape of the classroom, the weight of responsibility has never been greater. As educators, we must nurture and guide young minds toward a deeper understanding of justice, equality, and the beauty of such a diverse world. We must wield the mirror and the window for our students, reflecting the stories of all people while illuminating the shadows of systemic inequity. 

Not to worry, I have uncovered some methods to transform lessons into quiet acts of rebellion - teaching that encourages students to question, to empathize, and most importantly, to act. The work of shaping an inclusive future begins with the stories that we tell and the truth and lessons we dare to unveil. 

Have An Open & Safe Classroom 

If you have read any of my previous blog posts you have seen me talking about safe classrooms, but I just want to always reiterate this. Without a safe classroom, no learning will be done. Your classroom must feel safe to students for them to take anything in. 

I know that as a student, I trauma dumped on my ELA teachers. It was easy to do so when teachers asked me to write about me. But I know that sometimes students don't feel like they can open up. Providing a safe classroom for students to open up in and potentially discuss meaningful things can be so important. The idea of having open dialogue can truly help other students see real life struggles. If you put a classroom of 25 kids together and asked them to write about their life so far, they would each have a different one. One may have had an easy childhood with loving parents, maybe one had only their mom, or maybe one only had themselves. Having a space for them to discuss their issues could save a life, or at the very least it could help another student realize that life isn't always the best but that people get through it. People on the internet are always talking about how kids don't have empathy anymore and while that is not our job to necessarily teach, I would rather do it than have no one teach them. This is one way that can help. 

To create a safe classroom you must center your student voices. You want to empower your students to share their own stories, languages, and identities. This won't happen on the first day, but once you foster that community, it can happen. Validate their unique perspectives that they bring, and maybe you'll also learn a thing or two from them. 

Not Teaching The Norm

This one really falls under the ELA category because we have a little more to work with when it comes to text selection. For some reason, even though we have so many modern options, we still seem to rely on the old texts that (typically) don't even center around teens and young adults. A study done by a professor at Kansas State University, Ambyr Rios, in the state of Kansas most teachers still select and teach the same texts that were taught in 1964. Yes, you read that correctly. 60 years later and we are having our students read the same texts that their grandparents read in high school. Why? Because the literary canon of course. The problem with the literary canon is that the authors who wrote these stories are mostly white males. The same people who are writing stories about slavery, when in fact they did not endure the slavery. 

Teaching outside of the literary canon is critical in todays world. I am not saying that you have to completely get rid of it (but honeslty, why not?) but it is so important to find texts that will open up more doors for your students. Finding more modern texts that center around more diverse authors and characters can be so important when trying to teach your students equality and justice. It can also help them get rid of bias. Not to mention you can find texts that you enjoy a lot too. Sometimes the old texts can be fun, and maybe, just maybe critical, but its so important to evolve. It has been 60 years. It's time. 

Action Oriented Learning 

One of the best ways to encourage students to act is to make assignments that go beyond analysis. Prompting students to engage with their communities or to propose solutions to social justice challenges. You could even start with something small, maybe something within the school that the students don't agree with. Maybe your students don't agree with the dress code. Have them draft a letter to the principal addressing it. Eventually you can encourage them to do something that involves the community. Writing a letter to the local mayer or even the state governor proposing a plan or a solution to a problem they see occuring. This will get them acting without them realizing they're actually acting and more than likely dealing with social justice challenges. 

Change Never Happens Comfortably

While I know that these things might be scary to bring to your classroom if you haven't already. Change is scary for most of the population. But if you stay in your comfort zone, nothing will change. And change needs to happen. Not only is it important for you to change and evolve as an educator but it's important to remind our students that change doesn't happen unless you're willing to feel uncomfortable sometimes. Personal growth requires us to step out of our comfort zone and embrace the discomfort. Life is full of bumps in the road, embrace the bumps and keep on moving. Remind yourself everyday if you have to. Remind your students.

As We Wrap Up,

Let us rememeber that the classroom holds immense power. The power to challenge, to inspire, and to transform. By embracing antibias practices and weaving equity into every lesson we teach, we are equipping our students with the tools to interrogate the world and imagine a more just and inclusive future. The work that we do as educators is neither simple or ever complete, but it is essential. Every text selection needs to be intentional. Every discussion needs to be mindful. And the stories that are told within our four walls need to be heard. Together we can create classrooms where students are valued and empowered. 

And so, dear teachers, I leave you with this: may your teaching spark the kind of critical engagement that leads not just to learning, but to liberation. For what is education, if not the boldest act of hope? 

Citations

Rios, A. (2024). The Kansas literary canon: A study of texts taught in high school English courses. Kansas English, 105, 26-37. doi: https://doi.org/10.62704/e222h045