Hi, Ted Dawe. High school teacher of many, many years. Writer. Father. Husband. Human being. Oh Ted, we have a lot in common. Obviously I'll never be a husband, but I've been teaching teenagers for 6 years now. And I'm the parent of a nearly-16 year old. I like to write a little bit (in fact, truth be known, I would like to write a lot more)and I'm pretty sure we are both human beings. LOL!
But seriously, Ted, being human is what it's all about,don't ya think? Don't you think that teaching and writing is about helping others to try and find their humanity in some way? I think it's about story, identity, meaning and finding ways to communicate those things (so does the English curriculum, by the way. But I'm sure you know that already, Ted. You've been teaching teenagers English for a gazillion years). We all have a need to find who we are and to connect with others. That's what makes us human.
I'm pretty stoked that there are people like you out there, writing books, hanging out with teenagers, trying to teach them (for, let's be honest, Ted. From one teacher to another, sometimes try is all we can do), tackling the big issues and refusing to mutter 'damn youth of today. In my day ...' (continue the ellipsis; fill in the gap). Teenagers need mentors, and sometimes parents just don't cut it. Teachers offer mentorship that may work for some. And isn't that what we're trying to do, Ted? Save one starfish at a time, if we can? Throw it back in the ocean? Send a ripple out on the pond? Make a diffference?
I'm in awe of anyone who can get anything else done whilst maintaining a solid teaching practice. My heroes are people like you, Ted. Writers who teach. Writers who get up at 4 am to get down their creative ideas before heading to school to teach. Art teachers who paint/photograph/print-make/etch etcetera before heading to school and attempting to direct the tsunami of 120 teenagers asking 'what are we doing today, sir/miss?' (even when it's been made clear for days on end - from one teacher to another, one must laugh). YOU are my hero.
I have a little story for you, Ted. I'll call it an anecdote - it's not very long, and it's point not that strong, but it's relevant. In my first year of teaching, 2010, I gained employment at a small, rural Area school on the east coast of the North Island. About 45 kilometres north of Gisborne, Ted. I was the sole English teacher. God knows how I thought I was going to survive (a first year teacher? The only one at the school in my subject area? Let's just say, I'm a dreamer, and I hope I'm not the only one). It was a sink-or-swim situation, with the last English teacher leaving with the words trailing in her wake: 'Good luck. You'll need it.' LOL again, indeed, Ted! It certainly was a cliched trial by fire, that's for sure. 85% of my students were Maori - mostly Ngati Porou. Most were living below the poverty line. And a lot didn't know that marijuana was illegal (especially the younger ones that I didn't teach - it was an Area school). Most were heading for the sad destiny of unemployment in a small place called home, and many girls were pregnant at 16. 'Sweet - set for life!' said one to me. A sad thing, indeed. Anyway, when I arrived at this school, I went through the resources (as you do. For that question never goes away - 'what are we doing today, miss?'). Neatly stacked was 'No Fear Shakespeare', 'The Whalerider' and a perfect set of 'Thunder Road'. I hadn't read it, but I did, and I liked it. I wasn't enlightened enough to teach using the text in the year I was up there, but I did find out that it was a previous teacher (only there for one year) who had bought the set for the students. If I could have my time again, Ted, I would be teaching that first up. But retrospect is a fine thing, I suppose. That was the first time I heard of you. I didn't know you were a teacher yourself, and had possibly experienced what I was experiencing that year. I didn't know that's probably why you wrote the book.
To risk cliche myself: fast forward to 2013. Controversy strikes New Zealand! Some dude has the temerity to write about real experiences of real teenagers in a very real New Zealand! Shock! Horror! Save us! Now! That dude, of course, was you, Ted. You wrote a very real story about a character who comes into contact with very many very real things. Well, that's how I saw it (The East Coast was fresh in my mind). Not only did you get up at 5 am to write (that was the picture in my head) before heading to the chalkface, but you self-published to get the story out - so much did you believe in the story and the need for it to be told. I am certain that money came directly out of your pocket to get this one onto the streets. I am still in awe, and you are awesome.
And then, the award! Excellent! Bernard Beckett and co. rewarded your excellent writing with accolades and attention! That must've felt amazing, Ted, after bleeding and sweating out the words and paying the printers from your own pocket. A moment of pure clarity and joy, I imagine: 'THIS has made it worth it'. But possibly, probably not as much as knowing that teenagers would now be more likely to read the text, and some out there might just discover they are not alone. But, of course, you know that the moment of joy, the moment basking in the sun was to be short-lived. The fun police arrived.
The restriction, the debate, the ridiculous discussions around the 'filth', the 'C-word' and the hazardous effect of 'Into the River' on our young ones. I hadn't yet, so I promptly went out and bought a copy of your book - not only because my interest had been piqued, but also because I wanted to stand in solidarity with you. I wanted to support you, financially, emotionally; granted, from a very far distance, but still. You do what you can. I bought the book. I read it. I liked it; I imagined students from that small town on the East Coast of the North Island, 45 kilometres north of Gisborne, possibly reading the book. I wondered whose life would be changed with the reflection of their lives in your words. I hoped.
Years passed, Ted. I received an email from the head of NZATE (I'm sure you know, but that's the New Zealand Association of Teachers of English) asking for submissions from English teachers on 'Into the River'. She asked, if we had read it, could we put down an educated opinion? The email from the Classifications office looked like this:
The Classification Office is seeking expert assistance from education groups and has contacted you regarding the
reconsideration of the classification of the book Into The River
by Ted Dawe. If you know of anyone else who would be able to provide
comment please pass on this email. We would appreciate any comments by
the 24th July.
A brief background is provided below.
Into The River tells
the story of a young boy of Maori and Spanish
ancestry, Te Arepa Santos. He is born and raised in a fictional East
Coast village, but wins a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school
in Auckland. The book centres around his experiences in his first two
years at the school where he is academically successful,
but as a result of a series of poor decisions ends up expelled.
In
2013, we the Classification Office classified this book as
Unrestricted: Suitable for mature audiences 16 years of age and over.
This meant anyone could read it but it was more
suitable for a mature audience.
Part of the reasons for this decision were:
The
book deals with some stronger content. There are sexual relationships
between teenagers, encounters with possible child sexual exploitation,
the
use of illegal drugs and other criminal activities, violent assault,
and a moderate level of highly offensive language. These are well
contextualised within an exciting fast moving narrative that has as its
protagonist, a young teenage Maori boy from a rural
community who is finding his way through the strange uncomfortable
environment of a boys’ boarding school and unfamiliar social mores.
There
are many other novels widely available without restriction in New
Zealand with similar sexual descriptions of an equivalent nature, many
of them
literary classics and coming of age novels, or popular fiction
phenomena in their own right. This would make a restriction on 'Into The River'
arbitrary and unfair. It would create a widespread inconsistency in
conditions of access to books of this nature.
Concerns about children or young persons are adequately addressed by a
classification indicating the book's suitability for mature audiences
and a label that indicates sexual content.
Our decision was appealed by the group
Family First. The Film and Literature Board of Review classified
the book as R14 meaning it is restricted to persons 14 years and over.
The Board stated:
There
are scenes in the book that are powerful and disturbing, and in the
opinion of the Board run a real risk of shocking and disturbing young
readers.
Whilst those aged 14 and above are likely to have a level of maturity
that enables them to deal with this, those below the age of 14 may not.
The
book has now been submitted to us for a reconsideration of the R14
classification and we are seeking information from expert groups to help
us.
In particular we are interested in the following questions:
Thank
you for your time, any comments would be of great assistance to the
Classification Office. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have
any questions.
It was signed by Nic McCully, Deputy Chief Censor at the Office of Film and Literature Classification.
I must say, Ted, I was pretty stoked to be able to finally have a say. So I wrote the following in support of the removal of the restriction on 'Into the River'. You see, Ted, quite apart from the fact that I think your book is excellent writing and important in content, I don't believe in the censorship of books. That's happened in the past, in other countries in particular, and it never ends well. So I wrote this (now, when I look at it, I wish I'd written more, but retrospect, and all that):
Are there books of similar nature/content used in the school curriculum? Or generally available?
Yes!
Perhaps not taught as part of the curriculum, but certainly available
as personal reading material, or as part of a personal reading
programme. Other books that come to mind: Go Ask Alice by Anonymous;
The Lazy Boys by Carl Shuker; Forever by Judy Blume ...13 up, but, of course, there are students who would enjoy it younger and older, depending on individual circumstance.
No. It is a well-written, thoughtful book and all 'challenging' material is contextualised.
Sanity prevailed. At least momentarily. This statement of freedom was issued in August:
It seems to me that this statement is about a million miles from the last statement. Ted, they went from this:
Having re-examined the book, and considered the submissions and other information received, the Classification Office still finds that a restricted classification would be unreasonable, and therefore inconsistent with the right to freedom of expression. While the book deals with some challenging material, including sex, drug use, and violence, it does not do so in a way that is likely to cause injury to the public good. Given the value of the book as a resource for young New Zealand audiences, particularly boys, a restriction of any sort makes it unnecessarily difficult for the intended audience to access the book. The unrestricted classification reflects the informed advice received from individuals and groups with significant experience and expertise in relevant matters. The Classification Office is confident that the suitability of the book for younger readers can best be determined by libraries, schools and parents.
... to the above. In 20 DAYS.
SLANZA (the School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa) used evocative words such as 'shocking' and 'draconian' when describing 'what effectively constitutes a total ban'. Bibliotecarios vivas largos!
I hope, Ted, that you feel really supported by librarians. And teachers. And the general public. It's hard to know what to do as a citizen when such a thing happens. Protest? Discuss? Write? I'm trying all three. I have talked to 14 years olds. I've talked to 17 year olds. I've held structured discussions about censorship in class, thanks to this event (a silver lining?) I've yet to find a student who agrees with the ban.
I also hope that this embarrassing incident (embarrassing for New Zealand, that is) earns you lots of money. I hope you sell heaps of books. I hope a new precedent is set - not one where books with sex and the 'c' word and the 'f' word and drug use are banned, but one where teenagers are given the credit they deserve in the selection and consumption of literature. And, Ted, I think I'll leave the last word to a participant of your recent Reddit Q and A - succinct and to the point:
"I remember when I was in elementary school, we all wanted to read Harry Potter. But these dense f***ers literally didn't allow us to get the books from the library. They were only for kids older than 12. Talk about missing an opportunity. You got little kids begging to read and you tell them no. F***ers."
Yours sincerely,
Lara Liesbeth
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/355310/silent-protest-over-book-ban
http://www.dunedintv.co.nz/news/dozens-protest-temporary-ban-new-zealand-book
