"Guts" by Chuck Palahniuk.
A teacher at The Bronx School of Finance, Greg Van Voorhis, has been suspended after students were assigned to read Chuck Palahniuk short story “Guts” in preparation for their English Regents exam.
Principal Evan Schwartz reported Voorhis to the Department of Education because the short story, which was originally published in Playboy Magazine, is about a teenage boy’s mastubatory practices, which include sticking a carrot up his ass (ouch!) and autoerotic asphyxiation.
“We found out about it kind of through the grapevine. It’s a small school. It’s hard to keep a secret,” the New York Post quoted Schwartz as saying.
Schwartz added: “I deemed for someone else to decide whether it was inappropriate. I had to report it.”
Omar Caminero, a 15-year-old junior at the school, spoke in Voorhis defense, saying: “We’re not little kids. We are in high school. It’s not like we’ve never read anything like that — we have.”
Palahniuk is the author of New York Times bestsellers “Fight Club,“ “Choke,“ and “Pygmy.“
More at The Village Voice.
This story is all sorts of hilarious. I can just imagine the horror the parents went through when they discovered their child was assigned a story about some horny teenager sticking a carrot up his ass.
First of all, whether the parents want to admit it or not, the student is right in saying that they’ve already been exposed to similar things, if not worse. Alright, maybe not all the students. By the time I was 15, however, I was already playing with myself like a fiend, watched porn, smoked pot, and dabbled in some heavy petting.
Not to say that I’m the norm or the standard for high schoolers, but I think Palahniuk’s books are wonderful, not only for his writing style, but also because he puts a mirror to society and exposes much of what we pretend not to know or see due to social blinders.
A carrot in the ass is nothing — I know plenty of girls who have made love to a cucumber because it was convenient when their dildo was out of reach. Not to mention gay men who partake in glory holes, straight men who love their anus licked, and women who liked to be choked during sex. Alright, so maybe a carrot in the ass still seems a little odd, but trust me, someone out there is doing it.
Palahniuk might not be everyone’s taste, I get that, but I think if (uptight) students, parents, and school administrators can look past the sexual content, they might see that there is a context and depth to the author’s writings.
What do you guys think, should the teacher have been suspended?
Author Chuck Palahniuk.
Greg Van Voorhis, The Bronx School of Finance teacher suspended for assigning Chuck Palahniuk's "Guts" to students.
Comments
Ok so maybe the teacher should of thought about the consequences before assigning the book to the student. Parents like to think that their child is still as innocent as they were back when they were 6yrs. old. But in today´s world kids as early as 13yrs. old are already experimenting with each other. We as society need to open our eyes and accept what is happening and educate our children and most imp. have an open and trusting rel. where the child feels comfortable enough to talk to there parents about ANYTHING. If you can talk to your parents about sex you can pretty much talk to them about ANYTHING.
I do have to admit I have never heard of this writer nor his books but I will def. check them out when I get the chance. Any recommendations on which should be my first book? or has he only wrote one book?
Oops! I just assumed everyone knew his name and I completely forgot to add what other material he’s written. I updated it now. Chuck Pahalniuk is the author of “Fight Club,” “Choke,” and “Pygmy,” among others.
melysa