At 91国产自拍, English teachers are given the freedom to personalize the curriculum by reading literature that鈥檚 not on most high school syllabi. While we don鈥檛 neglect the classics, we do spend the first week sizing up a class to determine what texts students might find especially engaging.
One novella that has never failed me is Englishman The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1959). Protagonist Colin Smith has become a teenage petty criminal since the death of his working-class father. Not only has his company awarded the Smiths a pittance as a death benefit, but Colin鈥檚 mother is lavishing the money on her 鈥渇ancy man,鈥 whom she鈥檚 seeing before her husband鈥檚 demise. Colin feels rage, but has no productive way to channel it.
After getting caught burgling a bakery, he is sent to a 鈥,鈥 the British equivalent of a juvenile home. The school鈥檚 governor (akin to headmaster) discovers that his new arrival has a phenomenal gift for long-distance running. Seeing a chance to boost the bortsal鈥檚 reputation (as well as his own), the influential governor offers Smith an easy stay鈥攁s well as future influence鈥攊f he will win the Blue Ribbon Prize Cup against a school of upper-class students.
Smith agrees and is allowed to leave the high-security borstal to practice. His morning runs through the English countryside give him the first true pleasure he鈥檚 experienced in a long time. The reader hopes he has finally found a m茅tier that gives life meaning鈥攂ut not so.
Smith divides the world into two groups: 鈥渋n-laws 鈥 (the law-abiding, property-owning rich) and the 鈥渙ut-laws 鈥 (those like himself who have no stake in this system) ().
During the race he takes an early lead and puts plenty of distance between himself and the other team鈥檚 star runner. Nearing the finish line, Smith appears all alone. The cup is certain! The governor is ecstatic!
But ten feet before breaking the tape, Smith stops cold in his tracks, refusing to finish the race. The other runners pass him as the governor looks on in disappointment and humiliation.
The story raises key questions, especially for teenagers. Is Smith a rebel with or without a cause? Would winning the cup have been a sell-out to the establishment? Or has the young man cut off his nose to spite his face and denied himself advantages the governor offers?聽 Students fall half into each category, which makes for some excellent discussions and papers.