How are the #MeToo Movement and Conflict with Iran Connected? Through Seventh Grade Classrooms, Of Course

By Julian B. ’25 and Quinny B. ’25

Sherman Alexie’s novel, "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," is on the American Library Association's list of "challenged" books, those most objected to by parents and other community members. At Browning, Alexie has been the a topic of discussion in the Middle School English curriculum. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Discussions surrounding current events have resulted in the possible removal of a book from the curriculum and conversations about American conflict with Iran. 

The novel under threat of removal is The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, part of Lydon Vonnegut's seventh grade English class. The True Diary is about an adolescent Native American teenager who decides to take his academic talents to an all-white school, where the only other Native American is their mascot. The author of the novel, Sherman Alexie, a well-known Native American poet and writer, was accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. In 2018, Alexie issued a public apology, but educators continue to question whether his books have a place in schools. 

That’s precisely the issue that Ms. Vonnegut asked seventh graders to tackle. The assignment: write a memo to Head of School Dr. Botti, making a case to either keep the book in the curriculum or remove it.

Ms. Vonnegut has her Form I English class grapple each year with whether Alexie’s novel should be part of the school curriculum. (Julie Goldstone)

“The goal of the Absolutely True Diary Unit focusing on the allegations is to help students develop a set of tools to evaluate controversial situations that they encounter in the world,” Ms. Vonnegut said. “To figure out when allegations are made against someone, how credible are those allegations, what else do I need to know before I make a decision about my own opinion, when am I informed enough to make up my mind, and then what do I do with that information?”

Ms. Vonnegut also explained that studying literature is about observing the human condition, and these types of discussions naturally make their way into the classroom.

“It is difficult to inform students on serious matters like sexual harassment because those issues are just inherently challenging for people. So on one hand, addressing the allegations against Alexie in class comes with attendant challenges of navigating a sensitive and sometimes controversial topic, but on the other hand, it’s so seamless because I didn’t construct the situation; it has been an authentically occurring phenomenon in the world,” Ms. Vonnegut said. 

Ms. Vonnegut isn’t the only Form I teacher bringing current events into the classroom this year. History teacher Peter Weiss is providing a forum to discuss the conflict between the United States and Iran.

“At the start of the year, I asked Form I students if they wanted to talk much about current events, and most of you said ‘no,’ so I kind of assumed that the 6th graders wouldn’t be interested either,” Mr. Weiss explained. “That said, they did ask some questions over the past two weeks about what is happening in Iraq with the United States and Iran.”

Mr. Weiss also explained that controversial topics hold an important place in the classroom because they lead to the most meaningful discussions and provide students the opportunity to form opinions on key events shaping the world today.

As of the publication of this article, Dr. Botti hadn’t made a statement about whether or not Absolutely True Diary would remain in the curriculum, but a decision will be made before the next school year, according to Ms. Vonnegut. 

“The unit made me feel like I was driven to make a difference and express my strong feelings toward this topic,” Quinn C. ’25 said.