Much Madness is divinest Sense ―

To a discerning Eye ―
Much Sense ― the starkest Madness ―
'Tis the Majority
In this, as All, prevail ―
Assent ― and you are sane ―
Demur ― you're straightway dangerous ―
And handled with a Chain ―

A lot of a class depends on the teacher. When I did English 11 a few months ago, I thought that the stories one hears about how liberal and propagandistic the public school system is were nonsense. We studied Lord of the Flies. The Ministry of Education's worldview didn't seem to conflict with mine much. And that was that.

But English 12--same curriculum, but a different school, a different teacher--one who is a great fan of all things Politically Correct. Yeah, I'm more of a sheltered homeschooled kid than I thought. Everything is multiculturalism and diversity and "whatever you decide about this moral issue is fine, as long as it doesn't conflict with what the person beside you thinks".

Sorting through it all, to find and remember the truth about literature and life--because a lot of what they teach is true!--becomes exhausting. I want to scream out in the middle of class that just because something happens in real life does not make it a good book; that no, I'm not offended if you use "his" instead of "his or her"; that morals do, too, have something to do with literature! It's all so subtle--you can't quite stand up and argue against assumptions that are already made, offhand comments or things that others just take for granted to be true. And if I stop paying attention, I catch myself beginning to agree with them. Who doesn't support tolerance and freedom from prejudice? I want to hide away in my safe, homeschooled world before I start to succumb to some of it.

But...that's not what we're here for. We aren't called to hide, but to be salt and light, cities on hills, all the things that I talk about so glibly when I'm with people who believe exactly the same way I do. High school English is sort of a pathetic way to go about this, but it's a start, I suppose.

I didn't mean for this to turn into a long, angsty rant, believe it or not. Contrary to what one would think reading this post, I really am enjoying this class--on the whole, and taking one thing with another. It's like...reading and writing day camp. Yayw00t. But at the same time, I'm getting a taste--only a taste--of how it's so very, very easy to call yourself a Christian and believe your faith is suitably strong when you're far away from any battle.

So that's my venting-session of the day. See you tomorrow.