Tom Sawyer

[Pirate1+Princess4]

Not sure where this goes but thought I would share.

I loved Tom Sawyer Island at DL when I was teen. Wish my parents would have taken us over there as kids during our many trips to DL.

Now, I have a 9 year old and four 7 year olds. I really want to get over there and let them experience a little adventure. So, I checked out the "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" as an audio book from the library. They are really getting into more mature stories that can be read to them. And I wanted them to have a frame of reference when we visited TSI.

I popped it into the cassette player in the van and they are all hooked. Begging me to turn it on so they can find out what happens. We have a good 30 - 40 minute drive to visit DH for lunch today and really enjoying the story. OMG, I totally forgot about the vocabulary. Words to describe those of a different race that were common in that day and not considered derogotory. Words I sooooo don't want my children to even know exist. I'm just waiting for one of them to yell it at a sibling for all the neighbors to hear. I didn't say anything when it was used. Then it was used a few more times. Think we need to have a talk. Not one of them asked me what it means. Then there was the murder that Tom and Huck witnessed. OY!

WHAT WAS I THINKING???? My memory is of the movie- and wasn't the kid from "Family Affair" the character of Tom??? I was thinking it was boyish shenanigans. My memory is clearly failing. I should have stopped at the "whitewashing story" and left it at that. It's probably OK for my almost 9 year old, but think it's too much for the 7 year olds. But they are hooked.

Well, I did tell them about the paint brushes and they are quite excited about that.

 

[laceemouse]

Interesting observation
I am constantly amazed by my good Christian friends who talk about the "good old days" and look back at them with rose colored glasses. Their memories are clearly flawed.
I know exactly what you mean. What was common and accepted just a few decades ago is so wrong now! When people say we have not progressed since those days boy are they wrong!
We have rented books on tape or read many older books with shocking content, not just racial slurs but also drunk parents and all kinds of weird stuff

You are right, I think the movie is more toned down, but a newer version would be even safer. I DO think you need to discuss this issue with your kids, I think both of them are old enough. We have always talked to our kids about this, how times have changed and what used to be acceptable isn't any more.

We read "Cheaper By The Dozen" in our homeschooling last year. The OLD book. The dad was a closed minded bigot, but it is a funny book. We just had an open discussion about how times have changed!

We loved reading Tom Sayer and then exploring TSI! Also, watch Swiss Family Robinson and then go explore it at the MK! FUN

 

[mechteach]

Yes, Tom Sawyer is not just good, clean fun!

That said, I agree with the previous poster that this is a good opportunity to discuss those racial slurs with your kids. It's definitely a good idea to do so before they innocently use them and possibly cause real hurt or misunderstanding.

Good luck explaining the murder, though!

 

[cjb1879]

I'm sorry- I had to laugh out loud reading your post. I can just imagine the look of shock on your face when that part of the book was read. If you think Tom Sawyer is bad, don't let the kiddies read Huck Finn!!

Unfortunately, many books which we term classics and were written before the '50s have this kind of innuendo. As an African-American myself and a girl who LOVED books and eventually became an English major in college, I was often confronted with the pretty wide gap between what was acceptable to write then versus now. Personally, I've never let it detract from my enjoyment of book. For me, separating my appreciation for the writing from my distaste at archaic beliefs was the way I handled it. Others in my situation might think differently.

Nevertheless, as other posters noted, I think it this is merely an opportunity for you to talk to the kids about what they heard and how they ought to deal with it in future. Let's face it- they will hear those words at some point. Much better to hear it from you and get an informed explanation. Hope this helps you!

P.S. If you ever get a chance, try to get your hands on the original version of the Mary Poppins book. They are extremely hard to find now because in the '80s, the author, P.L. Travers revised a chapter of the book which was pretty racist and rereleased the book. Most places don't carry the old version anymore. As a little girl, I loved Disney's Mary Poppins but I had to read the original book for my children's lit class in college and I was shocked- not just at the weird chapter but also how much meaner Mary was throughout the book in comparison to Disney's sweet-but-stern version.