Nelson contacted me because I have proposed a special session for MLA 2013 about The Common Core and teaching children's and adolescent literature courses at the university levels.  While some academics have encountered and wrestled with the Common Core, many have not, and, I think, will be somewhat surprised how the creators of this document clearly ignored most university types in favor of business leaders thinking on what's important for school age children to learn.  What's worse, the Obama administration under Arne Duncan's leadership as Secretary of Education has forced states to adopt the Common Core in order to receive the relatively meager amount of money through Race to the Top federal competitions.

Still, as I point out in the article, I am adjusting my syllabi somewhat so that students in my courses are familiar with the texts that are 'recommended' in the Common Core documents.  This summer I'll be teaching Ray Bradbury's Farenheit 451 and am looking forward to that.  The texts in the Common Core are just suggested, but my feeling is that new teachers especially are going to follow the Common Core documents hook, link, and sinker because they feel they have no choice.

The Common Core certainly presents a conundrum for people who argued vehmently against E.D. Hirsch Jr.'s's ideas that he promoted in Cultural Literacy (1986).  Hirsch said in 2010 that the Common Core has the potential to revolutionize reading particularly as it de-emphasizes literature for a wider selection of texts. Hirsch presented his updated ideas in The Making of Americans: Democracy and our Schools (2010).

Whether academics like it or not, business people and government bureaucrats have decided that there is a canon of texts that all school children need to read and understand.  It's detailed in The Common Core.

The film was shot in black and white and is silent as well, although the beautiful, moody, original score, by Alfonso de Vilallonga, contributes significantly to the story's success.  During the Q and A afterward, Berger and the panelists discussed how contemporary black-and-white films can capitalize on contemporary audiences' ability to quickly comprehend visual cues and quick editing techniques.  Consequently, Berger puts so much to be 'read' visually on screen that the absence of hearing dialogue does distract in Blancanieves.

I was so impressed with the film that I quickly wrote to ask Marvels & Tales if I could review it for the fairy tale journal and just learned that that's going to be possible.  So I'll post more on that later.

James Franco as The Wizard

I also chatted about The Wizard of Oz with Jim Fitzpatrick on WJBC, the Voice of McLean County, two weeks ago.  Jan Susina with The Wizard of Oz bok

The media interest reflects, I think, that there's a genuine excitement about a new film based on The Wizard of Oz books. So far, the film is getting mixed reviews -- see reviews by Richard Roeper in The Sun-Times (reviewing instead of Roger Ebert) or Mahnola Dargis in The New York Times.  Yet, as Laura Kennedy points out in the podcast, the original MGM film was also somewhat panned by the critics.  But it gained a following through its own technological twist, aired repeatedly at Easter time on TV networks, that Baum would have appreciated.  Those annual telecasts insured that the film was cemented in children's imaginations and subconsciousness.  So whatever the critics think, our family is still going to see the film and be captivated.

And, I'm looking forward to teaching The Wizard of Oz in my children's literature class this spring.

File under O-Z.

Jan Susina speaking on WTVP's "At Issue"

Moderator H Wayne Wilson asked me to participate in the discussion about issues concerning censorship and banning of children's and young adult books.  Since I talk about this often in class, I was glad to contribute.  While book censorship may be somewhat on the decline, choosing which books to teach in a class is a difficult challenge for all teachers.  So in my classes I focus on helping education majors understand how and why they choose books and to be able to defend them as appropriate for the classroom.  Two librarians discussed issues of censorship by their patrons.  They noted that censorship is not too prevalent in the Peoria region.  However, challenges to books by parents continues throughout the country, including Illinois.

Thanks to H for inviting me.  He was a very thoughtful leader, just like Charlie Rose.  The other panelists -- Genna Buhr of the Fondulac District Library and Robert Koscielski who is the Associate Director of the Peoria Public Library -- were also engaging and had good perspectives on the topic as well.

Music by Dolly Parton in this hilarious, slightly risque musical based on the film that's being staged in a great production at Illinois Wesleyan this week. Jacob plays the teen son. We've seen the rehearsals and it's fun! Scott Susong is doing an amazing job directing. If you remember what it was like to be a working girl or guy in the late 70s (or wonder how things have changed), you'll particularly find this funny. Nov. 13-17 (Tues- Sat) at 8 pm and Nov. 18 (Sunday) at 2 pm. Tickets: $12 Tue - Thurs. $14 on weekend.

Here's an opening preview from the local theatre blog A Follow Spot.

Just so you know, it's rated PG-13.  Jacob's role as teen son is a guy who gives his mom something (in a role originated by Lily Tomlin in the film version) that gets the story moving in an interesting direction, let's just say.  Jacob has explained that he's "playing against type."

Mark says if a person habitually reads fiction, its likely a way for them to flee their own reality. It takes you out of your world and puts you into a more exciting world, it's a sense of escape essentially."

One of the appeals of reading is that escape from a typical day into a different world.  Readers learn about how the protagonists solve problems, fight demons, slay dragons.  We all don't have dragons to slay, anymore.  But reading fiction often helps get our wheels turning to think about how we can solve problems -- not with swords and guns -- but intelligently and smartly.

By the way, Mark's office, which is lined with books and objects related to contemporary culture, looks very cool. 

While re-reading Charles Dickens' Our Mutual Friend for the Dickens seminar this week, I am reminded how the novel often parallels contemporary life.  We are still concerned about dust, dirt and recycling, about the rich and the poor, about choosing the right person to marry. Reading Dickens, we can see how the characters approached their problems, and perhaps how we can avoid some of those mistakes, or perhaps not.

My dad and I in our family home in Birmingham, Alabama, a few years ago.

"A man's life of any worth is a continual allegory and very few eyes can see the mystery of life." Jean Keats (1819).  I believe my father's life is an allegory for the good life, what it means to be a good person.  His life showed what is worth living for.

Here's the longer version of his obituary.  The shorter version is in today's Birmingham News.

Stanley V. Susina — a pharmacist, professor at Samford University and University of Illinois, World War II veteran, Lutheran church leader, volunteer, Rotarian, world traveler, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather – died peacefully Sept. 1, 2012.  A resident of Hoover, AL, Stan was born 14 April 1923 in Berwyn, IL, son of Jan and Anna Susina.   He is preceded in death by his siblings, John, George, and Ludmilla (Ryan).  Stan attended public and Slovak schools in Chicago. During World War II, he studied meteorology for the Army at the University of Chicago. He served in the Pacific campaign and Japan, receiving a Bronze star.  He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in the 20th Weather Squad. While he was stationed in Los Angeles, he was a soldier extra in the 1944 film Music for the Millions starring Jimmy Durante.Three generations of Susina guys.

He received bachelor and R.Ph. degrees in pharmacy from the University of Illinois-Chicago in 1948.  At UIC, he met his future wife Betty (Knauss) who also graduated in pharmacy. He continued at UIC in pharmacology, receiving a master’s of science in 1951 and a PhD in 1955.  At UIC, he taught for ten years and was promoted to associate professor of pharmacy. He and his family lived in Lombard, IL.  They were active in St. John’s Lutheran church where their children attended school.  In 1962, he became a professor at Samford University’s school of pharmacy (now McWhorter School of Pharmacy) where he also served as acting dean for several years.  He and Betty and their children -- Jan, David, and Margaret -- settled in Hoover.  Betty and Stan were active in the Hoover community.

             Stan taught generations of pharmacy students at Samford and UIC.  At Samford, he received the John Buchanan Award for teaching excellence in 1966, an all-campus award. During the 1960s, Stan developed and taught the first clinical pharmacy courses at Stamford. He earned a law degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford. He retired in 1992. In 2002, Stan and Betty received the Distinguished Service Award from the McWhorter School.My dad at Karly's wedding two years ago.

A member of national, professional, and scientific organizations, he was president of the Chicago Retail Druggist Association (1960-62) and Jefferson County Pharmacy Association (1984-86).  Recently, he served as JCPA’s secretary. He also served on the Board of Directors of Jefferson County Mental Health Association and Jefferson County Drug Abuse Coordinating Committee. Stan integrated the Jefferson County science fair program. He received the A. H. Robbins Bowl of Hygeia Award for Outstanding Community Service in Pharmacy in 1974.  Joseph Dean, Dean of Samford’s pharmacy school in 1993, wrote, “Stan served as a voice for independent pharmacy practice for more than thirty years while an educator/practitioner in Illinois and Alabama.  Stanley V. Susina is a man worthy of recognition by the profession for his commitment, dedication, and lifelong love of pharmacy and pharmacy students.”

He was 50-year member of The Lutheran Church of Vestavia Hills, where he served in many capacities including on the board of elders and the Lutheran Braille Ministry.  He traveled on mission trips with the church to Slovakia, his parents’ native country. In 2007, Betty and Stan received a 25-year service award for volunteering to serve meals at the Firehouse Shelter.Three Susina guys in Aldridge Gardens, having a good time.

Stan was a charter member of Hoover-Riverchase Rotary Club.  Betty and Stan were involved in the Birmingham Audubon Society. He especially enjoyed taking care of the Bluebird Trail and going to Mentone nature camps. Stan learned how to make wine and was well known for his dandelion and elderberry wines. His family still drinks his vintage wines. Stan and his family were Hoover (Green Valley) Country Club members, enjoying tennis and golf. Recently, he volunteered with the Daybreak Grief Support Ministry.  Stan enjoyed reading, particularly mysteries, and was a regular at the Hoover Library.  While he was able, he participated in water aerobics at the Hoover Rec Center.

Stan and Betty traveled throughout the world.  They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on a six-week trip to India.  Often traveling on Friendship Force tours, they visited Central and America, and Europe.  Betty and Stan’s last trip was a National Geographic cruise to Russia three years ago.

 While he was physically color blind, Stan also was color blind in his worldview, interested in helping everyone.  His wife of 63 years, Betty preceded him in death.  He is survived by his children: Jan (Jodie) of Normal, IL; David (Donna) of Alpharetta, GA, and Margaret of Oak Grove, AL.  Stan was deeply involved in the lives of his grandchildren: Nicole (Sam) Swiney, Katie, Karly (Daniel) Sisco, David, Dana, Carey, Jacob, and his great-grandson Harrison Swiney.  Stan Susina will receive a military funeral in a private internment at the Alabama National Cemetery, Montevallo, AL. Memorial contributions may be sent to the church, the pharmacy school at Samford University, or the Hoover Public Library.

 

Click here. 

For those in the course, be sure to read John Forester's Life of Charles Dickens, Book 1, chapter 2 (pages 11-19) about the author's early life.  Here's a link to that section in the book.