Little Brother as a teaching tool?

[AlexReid]

Doctorow's novel provides instruction into the history of protest in America, the evolution of the internet, and the operation of encryption. However, perhaps it offers a radical and critical view of government and schooling.

How would you see this text functioning in a classroom? Would it?

You may want to check out this companion site while you are at it. As well as this page.

And here is William Gibson on Little Brother:

I've not previously expressed my admiration for Cory Doctorow's Little Brother. As Wm. Burroughs was fond of saying, "young boys need it special". In the case of Cory's book, though, young girls need it special too.

What do you think of that?

[Judith Piccione]

Oh no! I typed a whole response out and then clicked on the "companion site" link and my whole response disappeared!!

Anyway, in a round about way, I said that I definitely think this novel would be a great teaching tool. I feel as though it's very interdisciplinary. It brings in aspects of literature, history, computer science, and even math.

I don't think it's a good book for middle school students (hands on breasts and teenage sex), but for upper-level high school students, I think there could be some great discussions! How many kids today don't have something to say about privacy, security, relationships, technology, etc.? I think the discourse associated with this novel would be very eye-opening for students and teachers alike. I think everybody'd leave this novel having learned something.

In response to the quote "young boys need it special", I don't really understand what the "young girls need it special, too" means right now. I just finished the book this afternoon, so I think I'll try to mull over that a while and get back either later or tomorrow.

[Megan Morrissey-Kelley]

i think this book is almost a necessary tool in high school or YA fiction college level course. i think it's wise to give kids who have not experienced the world without technology the following lessons: think about what you are doing and the lack of anonymity technology offers, think about social change and the power of awareness, know that 'terrorism' has always existed--for every generation the gov't has warned of the enemy--the red scare, vietnam, cold war, 9/11, etc.,. This book does a fantastic job of tying history into the present and illustrating some outlet for typical teenage angst/rebellion.

As i was reading i was reminded of the movie Pump Up the Volume with Christian Slater--sort of the LIttle Bro. of my generation and the sense of empowerment it brought during a time when you are so controlled by your parents and school.

i think the text could very well function as a segway for some very important discussion during a really scary time.

[Rachel Alexander]

I don't think I have read far enough or know enough (anything) about Burroughs to understand Gibson's comment, besides the obvious part about admiring Doctorow.

I am not preparing to teach high school students, but as a parent of a teenaged boy, I think this book could definitely function as a teaching tool at the high school level. Firstly, it is easy to read and avoids lengthy descriptions, focusing instead on the action of the story, which is compelling for young readers, and it uses language that they can relate to (I've never seen the word 'emo' in print, and if it weren't for my son, I'd have no idea what that means). Secondly, from what I've read (about a quarter through) it deals with current issues of technology, terrorism, and government intervention. I think Little Brother would be great included i na lesson involving social and political concepts. I believe the book could really get students thinking and sharing important ideas.

[Joshua Lawrence]

I think Little Brother is a great book perfectly suited for teaching. I myself am not a teacher, but I know I would have loved to be exposed to the kinds of ideas Doctorow includes in his novel. I remember when I was in high school I read 1984, but not because it was required, I was simply curious to see what the book was about. I remember thinking, "Wow, this book was written more than thirty years before the titular year and it is so incredibly insightful." Of course Doctorow's novel does not include as much foresight as it is written in the very near future and includes almost every element present in today's society. Nevertheless, Little Brother is an eye-opener and performs its service to the American public without being overtly violent or crass in any way. It almost inspires me to become a teacher myself just so I can teach the text.

[Megan Morrissey-Kelley]

I agree and i would certainly use Little Brother in my classroom if i were planning to teach high school. You mentioned it is an "eye-opener," do you think this would be an issue? i mean, wonderful that it gets kids interested, motivated, and talking about current events, history, politics, etc., but what about what it says about schools? it was a bit eye-opening to me to see that, if Doctrow's near future school is accurately based on our current education system, then not a whole lot has changed since i as in high school receiving a fairly conservative, one-sided education in a public school that was heavily into discipline and not so much into creating free thinkers.

[Judith Piccione]

Hmmm..you're right. The high school I went to has students carry ID cards with chips in them now to keep tabs on them (there's an open campus and kids routinely abuse it). So...I guess it's really not all that far off then, huh? Well, like I said before in my posting...it'd definitely pose some great conversations. I mean, the kids are living it...why not talk about it...imagine the reflective pieces and research that could come out of it!

[Amanda McK]

High schools all over resemble that of Doctorow's descriptions. Not only are ID cards becoming increasingly popular, but schools now have high tech security systems (which is definitely, in part, a response to school violence) and cameras all over the campuses. I think Doctorow definitely showed how ridiculous it could get in the future though, especially through the gait-recognition sensors! Come on! And what about cell phones-- don't they all have trackers in them now, that can pinpoint the caller and their location?? I don't think Doctorow's future is so far away...

[Kelli Voltz]

I think that this book would be great for high school students to read. It is interesting and would be easy to relate to because of the age of the main characters. I think you could really tie the book into social studies as you discuss the goverment. It brings up so many important topics and issues that I think high school students would do great at creating and acting out debates about them. It lets them see another side of the future and they could easily compare today's life with the future one that Doctorow discusses.

[Nicole Brady]

This book should be required reading. I believe the students would find it very in-tune with where they are at in their lives. It seems to me, and would seem to them, like a scenario which could occur in the very near future. Most of them were impacted by the terrorist attacks and this is the first good book I have read which references them in the way it does. I feel it would function as a great jumping off point for discussions about past "movements," such as the ones mentioned in Little Brother itself. The talks about Vietnam would also lead to discussion on the war in Iraq. While we did not discuss such controversial themes in my high school, I feel they are necessary to help the students open up intellectually. They might also spur some debates, which is never a bad things.
I haven't completely finished Little Brother, so I'm not sure if there is more to the quote you mentioned than I see. However, I like the portrayal of women in Doctorow's book. Although, because the main character is male, they are not the focal point of this book - girls do play a big role. This book appeals to both. The girls (females) in this book seem to have no disability becuase of their sex. It's not very "out there" though, enough to make this quote make sense in that context. Wish I knew what that quote meant exactly.

[Rebecca Burtram]

I am about 3/4 done with the book so I guess I can comment here now. We kind of have interdisciplinary themes for each grade at our middle school based on the literature the kids are reading in English class. We pick one book at the beginning that will be the overarching theme for everything. Our theme for the 7th graders is kind of a becoming conscious theme.... the idea of learning to question things for yourself. I think this book is great for that. The idea of not just excepting things at face value, but really thinking them through for yourself. Don't just do things, but think about why you do those things. I'm not sure it is super appropriate for 7th grade, but I'm not sure if its really inappropriate either. I teach Spanish, so I'm not completely up to date on what is okay in literature to as far as exposure goes at that age.

[Rebecca Burtram]

Okay, after looking at the other sites... I have to say that I know the students would eat this up! They would love the fact that the book comes to life for them through the internet. You can't ask for a better real life connection to what they are reading.

[Rebecca Burtram]

I guess that the comment about girls comes from the fact that the females are just as strong in this book and a young girl could really relate to Ange and feel somewhat inspired to....I am very tired and brain fried right now... so I will leave it at that