Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl is a controversial book that many students and parents would like to see removed from their school curriculum. Some schools have actually removed it already. They have argued that the content in the book is inappropriate for the age level of students. It is argued that the book is too sexually explicit and that it is depressing; therefore it should be removed from required high school reading.
The truth is that the reasons for banning the book can also be the reasons for keeping the book in the curriculum. Banning the book could have a negative impact on learning. There are several reasons to retain the book as required reading in school. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl reminds children of real life historical events; it helps answer questions they may have, while encouraging deductive reasoning and problem solving, it also encourages the students to think for themselves.
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl is a non-fiction account of Anne Frank’s personal strength and courage as she was hiding from Nazi soldiers. The diary accounts for two years of Anne’s life, beginning at age thirteen. Anne’s age is one reason to require the continued reading of her diary in school. It is important for students to know what struggles a similar child went through, especially as a child of the same age.
Children need to know that life is not easy for everyone, but there is a way to continue with life, regardless of adversity. This book is a reminder that war is real; it is depressing, but the events really happened. People must remember the past in order to appreciate the present and avoid the possibility of making the same damaging mistakes in the future. This book reminds the reader about the Nazi occupation and World War II.
Anne created her own written account of the reality she personally saw; she documented what was happening to everyday people. The diary was to be a revelation of the truth. As Anne’s motivator, the Dutch Minister for Education told the civilians to keep personal records of the events they experienced. There was a fear that the truth would be hidden or lost forever. Anne saw the importance of recorded history.
Recorded histories can teach future generations about the past, and can also help teach the reality of the human condition. After the Dutch Minister for Education completed his speech Anne revised her earlier writings. She made them easy to read and added extra details that she felt would be important. She also removed anything she felt was too personal for public viewing. After Anne’s death, her writing skills even surprised her father. After reading her entries he said that her words were accurate and very vivid.
This book is an eye-witness account of what the Jewish people endured in that time period. It is also a look into the maturing life of a young woman. While reading, students can compare their lives to the life of Anne. Anne was a normal girl, growing up in adverse times, doing the best she could to survive.
While recording her account, she thought of others; she wanted the world to know what really happened. If people do not learn from their past they are doomed to repeat it. The book is an account of real events. It is graphic and has sexual content, but it would be ridiculous to ban reality.
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl was written with the intent to answer questions. Anne suspected that in the end the truth would be lost, hidden, or altered. She did her part in recording the details of her true story. The book answers some important questions about the war. The first person point of view allows the reader to use deductive reasoning and encourages them to use problem solving skills.
In this book the reader is given the facts as Anne sees them. She relates an idea of what the time period was like. Students can use these tools to form a conclusion. They can also determine how society can learn and grow from the information given. One of the biggest reasons for required reading, such as Anne Frank, is the ability it has to expand the mind. Thinking and reasoning allow the mind to further explore the real world.
Enough time has passed, that some students do not realize what the World War II era was like. This book is a reminder of what war was like. It is easy to forget the suffering of others, especially if it is not personal. Anne’s words reflect the reality of her actual life, a life lived in adversity. Emotions are a wonderful learning tool. People tend to remember what touches them personally. It would be hard to dismiss the unnecessary pain of a thirteen year old girl.
Literature is a good reminder of the past, and an indicator of how events are perceived over time. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl gives a reminder of the realities of war; the reality of war is something that should not be forgotten.
War should feel real. In today’s technological world there is a desensitization of the reality of war; Anne’s account allows a student to see the real life view from the eyes of another child. Children need someone to relate to, a reason to hold on to their personal strengths. It is easy to become complaisant.
This book allows children to think and ask questions about why these events of war happened. Students can learn how some people respond to life; they can have some insight into the cruelty of some people, and the strength of others. This book reminds students to fight for themselves as well as others. Everyone is important; it is difficult to learn that lesson sometimes. People can grow from the struggles of others.
Required reading teaches students to think for themselves. Discussing reading assignments in class can also help the students see various points of view. Everyone views literature differently. Certain quotes and situations will stand out for different students. The characters in a book can help the students relate. Perception is subjective and variable. When students actively communicate they can see how others think differently.
They will understand that everyone has their own opinion, right or wrong. Learning how people think strengthens the individual thought process. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl introduces real life events, and helps encourage deductive reasoning and problem solving, while encouraging students to think for themselves.