Push by Sapphire
“Every blade of
grass has its Angel that bends over it and whispers, ‘Grow, grow.’”
--The Talmud, epigraph to Push
Push is an intense novel
that was hard to read due to the graphic and disturbing subject matter.
Regardless, it is a tale that shows the value of literacy as a liberating force
and how a teacher who acts as a positive role model can transform lives. Although
by the end of the book things are still quite difficult for Precious and with
her recent AIDS diagnosis she probably does not have much time left to live,
there is still some hope for the future, as she reads to her child, passing on
one of the greatest gifts you can give a person.
Helping your
students to become literate is probably one of the most important things a
teacher can do, because it gives your students access to the rest of the world.
In the novel, Precious becomes more curious and open-minded through reading,
and even retracts some of her previously held negative views on homosexuals,
after learning that her teacher Ms. Rain, in addition to some of her friends
are gay, and that there is in fact nothing sinful about it. I’m not necessarily
expecting to teach English in the same program that Ms. Rain does, but
regardless, there are some lessons to be learned about teaching, learning, and
compassion in Push.
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