Should students read Mein Kampf?

[Shadow Wolf]

If a school gives access to the text they are duty bound to provide this and it is not possible.

It isn't just "not possible," it is unethical to withhold it.
Library Bill of Rights
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.

I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.

V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.

VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

VII. All people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a ri
ght to privacy and confidentiality in their library use. Libraries should advocate for, educate about, and protect people’s privacy, safeguarding all library use data, including personally identifiable information.

 

[Augustus]

It isn't just "not possible," it is unethical to withhold it.
Library Bill of Rights
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.

I'm going to disagree that high school libraries have a duty to provide jihadi texts, white supremacist literature, etc. to minors.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Plenty of books about the Nazis and WW2 that would be more educational than Mein Kampf.

I think this is the point I was clumsily dancing around, and I completely agree.
In terms of whether a school can 'provide context' I have more varied points, although I think your point would be commonly (rather than universally) correct.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

It isn't just "not possible," it is unethical to withhold it.
Library Bill of Rights
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.

I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

Whilst I largely sympathise with this viewpoint, that is a policy document, not an ethical imperative.
We would already restrict access to material outlining how to make a bomb from household supplies (for example).

To re-iterate, I wouldn't remove Mein Kampf as I would a technical guide on bomb-making. But my point remains.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Tagging @ecco
Some high schools have the book in the school library. My question is should it be read by students? Is it important that we read such a book to understand history in order to not repeat it or is it a bad idea to teach about such political ideaology in detail? What are y'alls thoughts? I dont know if it should or shouldn't.

Of course. It's an historically important text. You're in school to learn, not to be coddled and shielded from reality.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

The OP only says "students," and those come in all ages. I rather suspect that those in more junior grades (say anything less than college), it's probably a stretch to suppose that they should read it, as a mandatory subject. On the other hand, I happen to believe that college/university students (and that other oddity, the adult learner like me) should try to read as much as possible of the texts that have indisputably shaped our world -- or shaped some of the eras that have made our history what it is.

At the end of the day, understanding is not a bad thing at all.

No issues with anything here, and I think I was probably a university student when I read it. Certainly right around 17-19 years of age.
Personally, I don't think the text shaped much at all. The man who wrote it is another story, but whatever I was expecting when I read it (some sort of coherent organisation of the man's vision and strategies, perhaps?), Mein Kampf wasn't it.

I think Hitler's oration was far more impactful and meaningful to understanding how he was able to influence the world than Main Kampf, so I'd push back HARD on making it mandatory reading for any purpose, since I don't see the educational imperative.
Again, not disagreeing with anything you've said, just offering my perspective.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Of course. It's an historically important text. You're in school to learn, not to be coddled and shielded from reality.

Is it though?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Is it though?

Yes, just like Mao, Lenin and Marx's crap, that caused the death of tens of millions and is still oppressing many millions. It's important to understanding the world and history, regardless of how noxious such ideologies are.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Yes, just like Mao, Lenin and Marx's crap, that caused the death of tens of millions and is still oppressing many millions. It's important to understanding the world and history, regardless of how noxious such ideologies are.

Totally agree, and people tend to find my bookshelves either super interesting, or somewhat scary.
However, Mein Kampf in and of itself (rather than Hitler as a topic, or even Hitler's oration) wasn't particularly impactful relative to lots of other things, and there are only so many things one can study (even if they geek out a little like I do...!)

 

[Regiomontanus]

That's kinda how I look at it. It's a window into the inner psyche of Hitler and the history that followed it.

I think some might fear it might be inspiring for some people though.

I think that if a kid has been raised right then I do not think the book would be inspiring. A talk about it/reading with them might be good too, for certain ages. I always gave my kids wide latitude in what they could read (but not everything) and I think it was a good thing for them.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Totally agree, and people tend to find my bookshelves either super interesting, or somewhat scary.
However, Mein Kampf in and of itself (rather than Hitler as a topic, or even Hitler's oration) wasn't particularly impactful relative to lots of other things, and there are only so many things one can study (even if they geek out a little like I do...!)

I assume if it's mandated reading in a school, it's part of a course the students are taking. I've never seen that book mandated just because. It's not classic literature. Lol. It's barely even readable.

 

[Regiomontanus]

Yes, just like Mao, Lenin and Marx's crap, that caused the death of tens of millions and is still oppressing many millions. It's important to understanding the world and history, regardless of how noxious such ideologies are.

I would argue there is much of value in reading the works of Marx. His ideas were not inherently bad, IMO, in fact his analysis of many aspects of Capitalism and labor is spot on. The problem was when monsters like Stalin perverted things to consolidate their power.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I would argue there is much of value in reading the works of Marx. His ideas were not inherently bad, IMO, in fact his analysis of many aspects of Capitalism and labor is spot on. The problem was when monsters like Stalin perverted things to consolidate their power.

I just think it's obvious that Marxism is a failed ideology, and that's because it's based on false assumptions in the first place, and then later theorists (like Lenin) made it even worse. I do not find much value in it, and I find its popularity among "respected" types baffling. To me, it should be as denounced and despised as Nazism is. Lord knows its killed far more. The double standard was always very bizarre to me.

You don't need to read Marx to critique capitalism, anyway. Just living in America is enough to critique it. Lol.

 

[Regiomontanus]

I just think it's obvious that Marxism is a failed ideology, and that's because it's based on false assumptions in the first place, and then later theorists (like Lenin) made it even worse. I do not find much value in it, and I find its popularity among "respected" types baffling. To me, it should be as denounced and despised as Nazism is. Lord knows its killed far more. The double standard was always very bizarre to me.

You don't need to read Marx to critique capitalism, anyway. Just living in America is enough to critique it. Lol.

I respect your point of view though think you are wrong about the value of Marx.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I assume if it's mandated reading in a school, it's part of a course the students are taking. I've never seen that book mandated just because. It's not classic literature. Lol. It's barely even readable.

Yup, that makes sense.
I think we're basically agreed, I just find it interesting picking your brain on these sort of topics.

If I were structuring up a course on Hitler and the rise of the Nazis, I wouldn't include Mein Kampf. I might include some excerpts from it, but there's just not enough coherency for it to be anything more than a 'see for yourself' moment. And if I wanted those, I'd go with snippets of his speeches, etc, as there is more coherency in listening to them, and more context in terms of why those particular words were effective in driving behaviour. Plus, less investment of student time.

In terms of it being 'barely readable', I agree. I was somewhat disappointed at the time with that, then wondered why I would be surprised...lol

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I respect your point of view though think you are wrong about the value of Marx.

Fair enough.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Yup, that makes sense.
I think we're basically agreed, I just find it interesting picking your brain on these sort of topics.

If I were structuring up a course on Hitler and the rise of the Nazis, I wouldn't include Mein Kampf. I might include some excerpts from it, but there's just not enough coherency for it to be anything more than a 'see for yourself' moment. And if I wanted those, I'd go with snippets of his speeches, etc, as there is more coherency in listening to them, and more context in terms of why those particular words were effective in driving behaviour. Plus, less investment of student time.

In terms of it being 'barely readable', I agree. I was somewhat disappointed at the time with that, then wondered why I would be surprised...lol

Mein Kampf is really propaganda, and not even a good way to learn about the ideology, honestly. I can see it having its uses in school, but it certainly does not have to be read in full. I've never finished reading it. I can't torture myself so.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Mein Kampf is really propaganda, and not even a good way to learn about the ideology, honestly. I can see it having its uses in school, but it certainly does not have to be read in full. I've never finished reading it. I can't torture myself so.

I did it. It made me long for the days I forced myself to read the entire New Testament from cover to cover (which was pretty dumb, but I used to set myself these strange little goals). Read some of Proudhon for much the same reason, and found it much more interesting.

All three felt like I was reading dubiously translated texts, for some reason...ahem..
(sorry...atheist humour. Feel free to roll eyes, etc)

 

[Twilight Hue]

I assume if it's mandated reading in a school, it's part of a course the students are taking. I've never seen that book mandated just because. It's not classic literature. Lol. It's barely even readable.

It reminds me of the huge controversy over Mark Twain and Huckleberry Finn books.

A lot had to do with the era and language of the time of Samuel Clemons.

If not educated on the time and era, it would be highly scrutinized as the 'N' word and racial tones were utilized quite a bit in his works without noting that such things were commonplace banter during that particular time which obviously is regarded as highly derogatory in the present day.

I remember when my school removed those works from their library and was no longer accessible via the library to my dissatisfaction as I enjoyed tbe many stories. Particularly Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

It reminds me of the huge controversy over Mark Twain and Huckleberry Finn books.

Except those are actually good books worth reading. Lol.