{"id":450,"date":"2019-02-10T21:16:11","date_gmt":"2019-02-11T03:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itslitteaching.com\/?p=450"},"modified":"2025-08-27T19:54:38","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T23:54:38","slug":"teaching-controversial-literature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itslitteaching.com\/teaching-controversial-literature\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Controversial Literature: How to Add It to Your Curriculum"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are you interested in teaching controversial literature, but feeling a little nervous? You’re not alone!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lately, I’ve been receiving e-mails and TPT questions like this: I really want to teach The Hate U Give<\/a>. I know my students would love it. I know they NEED it! But I’m getting pushback from my principal\/school\/district. What do I do if my school won’t let me teach The Hate U Give? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, I want to offer a few ideas for getting your The Hate U Give<\/em> or other controversial unit approved. <\/strong>(If you still can’t get your district to approve of The Hate U Give<\/em>, I offer some alternatives at the end of this post.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I could absolutely turn this into a soapbox about censorship, I’m going to focus less on the why<\/em> of changing your curriculum and more on the how<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use and love, or think my readers will find useful.<\/em>
<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Pinterest<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Teaching Controversial Literature Tip #1: CYA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I want to preface all of this with a warning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You know your district, students, parents, and administration better than I do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t do anything that will put your job in jeopardy. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By all means, push where you can, fight if you feel you can win, but don’t risk your job. Even if you are willing to sacrifice your livelihood for the sake of fighting censorship, stop to think about your students. They need teachers like you–teachers who seek to diversify their curriculum and really stop to see<\/em> their students. Taking yourself out of the game doesn’t help them. Live to fight another day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you do secure approval, get it in writing. Ultimately, teaching is<\/em> political, and like it or not, covering your, er, bases is part of the job.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ok! Warning over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, how should you go about teaching controversial literature if you haven’t before?<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Copies<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Teaching Controversial Literature Tip #2: Get Admin on Board<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, before you jump into teaching controversial literature–The Hate U Give<\/em> or otherwise–get permission. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure your principal is on board and that the district has approved any curriculum changes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am lucky in that I work at an alternative school. Our Literacy Coordinator knows my kids need a different approach. As long as I vow to stick to the same standards and learning targets, she pretty much lets me do whatever I want. Once she was on board, my principal didn’t see an issue with it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re a new teacher in a large district, reaching out to someone you may have never met before can be intimidating. I feel you. Do it anyway.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask a coworker, your principal, another English teacher, or anyone you do feel comfortable approaching in your building and ask about who to contact. It’s the Coordinator of Literacy’s job to field questions like this, so don’t worry about wasting anyone’s time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can get your principal or another member of administration on board first, you’ll have someone who has your back later. Got a parent complaint? Well you have administration on your side! Even if you need to create an alternative curriculum for a student, you know you’re choices will be supported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n