Everyone in my class hated Anne Frank:(

[Pam]

I would have to say, I think it may be because they cant relate to the story, but it is still happening and maybe they should read about Rwanda or Vietnam, and they sure would not be thinking it was boring if they had visited the Holocaust museum or maybe did internet research on it, then it may bring it closer to what they can relate too.

[Dee]

Hope wrote: "I have often thought that history and literature classes should be taught together. Not necessarily in terms of the same classroom with the same teacher (this would be great, but I don't think our ..."

I remember doing stuff like that in school in Australia - where all the subjects were based around a theme - i think its called Schema learning

I remember we did one called Around the World - and we had to basically plan a trip around the world - in english we had to construct a journal about our trip; math - time zones, currency exchange etc, geography learning about the countries we picked

[Bai]

I have read Anne Frank's diary and I admire the young girl's spirit that shines through. But at the end of the day, we have to remember, it is a diary, not a book written with the intention of publication.

In the 7th grade, when you are considered too young to be exposed to the horrors that was the holocaust, it is not entirely surprising that most people wouldn't appreciate the life of this girl.

You are obviously a mature young person, but you have to realise your friends may not be that mature yet. This is basically non-fiction. Have you ever read any autobiographies, say of Gandhi or Lincoln?

If the answer is no, you should be able to understand why your friends may not understand the value of this diary as of yet.

[Ellie]

This book really moved me, to think people can be so cruel. They are obviously not smart enough to understand that people had to go through such horrible times, to allow them to live like we do today! Really makes me cross! goood on you for liking this book!xD

[[deleted user]]

Oh my, I can not begin to express the depth of my sadness, after reading so many of the comments about this book. I bought this book through the school's book reader club, when I was 10 going on 11 years old. I was touched to the depth of my very being, by thiss book. I was ashamed of the fact that I am part German. How anyone could make fun of what happened during the holocaust, is a scary thought to me.

To this day, I can not watch movies based on events of the holocaust. I just can not bear to have that visual. I have a very vivid imagination, and reading about what happened, was hard enough to get through. I did not care for History much in school. However, reading personal accounts, such as Annes's story made me have compassion for those who suffered at the hands of the Nazi's.

By the way, if I could read this book in the 5th grade, and understand the magnitude of what Anne went through, why can't kids in the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade? And saying that you can't relate, sweetie lets hope you are never in that position.

[Will]

Kristin wrote: "As a teacher, I feel there are two problems with the presentation of the book. First, 7th grade seems just a tad young to be introducing this book to you, maturity levels being what they are these days."

I don't agree with this at all. I don't think you are giving kids enough credit. This reminds me of those "back in my day" arguments. Kids are basically the same, and 7th grade isn't too young for this book. I read it in school in the 5th grade, and we handled it just fine. I'm only 26yrs old, so that wasn't that long ago. If you treat kids as if they aren't mature enough to handle things, then you aren't giving them a chance and they will likely act how you treat them.

[William]

Will wrote: "Kristin wrote: "As a teacher, I feel there are two problems with the presentation of the book. First, 7th grade seems just a tad young to be introducing this book to you, maturity levels being what..."

But have you considered the maturity of the parents of these seventh graders? I have gotten in hot water over less controversial books than this. It didn't stop me from assigning challenging texts, but it does make for a long day full of complaints.

[Will]

William wrote: "But have you considered the maturity of the parents of these seventh graders? I have gotten in hot water over less controversial books than this. It didn't stop me from assigning challenging texts, but it does make for a long day full of complaints."

That's a good point, but it has to be hard to gauge the maturity level of every parent of a classroom full of kids.

[William]

I agree, but what can you do if parents are going to object to books like Native Son, To Kill a Mockingbird, or an essay like A Modest Proposal? It's much harder to educate an adult who is not even in the class. Most recently one teacher got in hot water over assigning Zadie Smith's On Beauty. Of course, nothing that happens in books happens in real life.

[Anna]

I too have the same issue in my English class; everyone thinks that she was utterly boring. I have to say that I have read this book many times, probably the first time in fourth grade, and I enjoy it repeatedly. Anne Frank's diary is probably one of my favorite books, so I just use this all as a lesson: be respectful when giving an opinion on a book.

[Will]

William wrote: "To Kill a Mockingbird"

Surprisingly, more parents from my class objected to To Kill A Mockingbird than The Diary of Anne Frank!

[William]

I am told that the objection to the book To Kill a Mockingbird is "White Guilt." As far as Anne Frank, I was thirteen years old when they caught Eichmann. We were inundated with everything Nazi related. Many kids complained of having nightmares, but that didn't stop us from reading about these horrors. It is as though we had suddenly been recruited to become witnesses after the fact. Our awareness, however, has not stopped these sorts of events from reoccurring even into the Twenty-first century.

[Tara]

What is wrong with those kids???

[Lesli]

I think Anne Frank was a brave girl, she and her family had to hide all those years from the Nazi to survey not being found and live.