My 13 yr old had to redo a book report that he actually flunked last week. I flipped (he's never gotten less than a "B" in anything!) and insisted he bring it home so I could take a look at it and he could turn it in again for a better grade. One redo per report, thank goodness. This eve, I find the teacher had written the comment that his evaluation was vague and incomplete because when asked about the "plot" my son commented he didn't think there was one or a theme. He stated the writer just wrote an interesting story to try and entertain someone. Period. My son obviously wasnt entertained.
So here's the deal.  The book is called Burning Up. In a nutshell it's about this 1997 teen writing a history research paper on how the barn burned down in 1959 (purely suburbanite beach town NE US setting). The whole story then tells of how her grandparents (and neighbors) had always said it was a simple fire but turns out the fire was arson, set to try and drive out (or kill) the 1st black teacher who lived there (barn apartment) and taught there. Eventually she sees that even now, there are still fires to put out (racial hatred) and she must take a stand from her own friends that slur a few of the kids in their own class.
I ask my son, what the crap? How can you not get the plot and theme of this book? He says, it was just a story and a pretty stupid one at that! Me, in my aged wisdom, of course, continues to try and explain the heart of this book. Finally, and I have to admit, exasperated, I demand he rewrite the report with examples that I have explained. He looks at me and insists, I just don't get it and it's just plain stupid!!!!and walks away.
Here I am, an hour later, and finally the light bulb goes off. Both the teacher, I and this writer obviously know much more about deep-rooted racial lines. My son on the other hand, simply doesn't get it and pretty much thinks that kind of thinking is stupid! I am overjoyed! Why should he get it? It's not how he was raised nor how he thinks. I'm grateful he doesn't understand that kind of racial hate. Not that's he's an angel by any means, but at least when he tells one of his friends that something ticked him off, it's because of an action, not a skin color. I love learning from my kids!
Time to go tell him that and explain about how not all homework and reports are about his perception, but the perception of what the teacher wants to hear. I think this is an "F" I can be proud of  | 
Racism and my son. Teacher and I flunk.
I never appeal to my teachers because they all know that I tell it like it is 
