In "The History Teacher," Billy Collins suggests a complex relationship between adults and children, illustrating not only the desire to protect children's innocence but also the limitations and dangers of such an approach. The teacher's attempts to shield his students from the harsh realities of history—by trivializing concepts like war, violence, and suffering—ultimately lead to a superficial understanding of their world. For example, he turns lessons on the French Revolution into a discussion about "the nice man" and "the bad man," reflecting his fear of confronting the brutal truths of history. This portrayal highlights a paternalistic dynamic where adults, in their well-intentioned efforts to preserve innocence, inadvertently create ignorance. Collins effectively emphasizes the consequences of this protective instinct, suggesting that while the intention may be noble, it undermines children's ability to engage with reality and develop a deeper understanding of the complexities of life. Thus, instead of fostering true innocence, the teacher's approach risks leaving students ill-equipped to navigate the world’s complexities when they eventually encounter them.
The speaker in "The History Teacher" claims that the history teacher is "trying to protect his students' innocence." After reading his poem, do you think that Collins is portraying the protection of the students' innocence or something else? Explain what Collins is saying about the relationship
between adults and children and how he makes his point. in a paragrapgh with evidence from poem
1 answer