Class Quote by Donald Ray Pollock
“I remember a class I taught at Ohio State where I assigned a Mary Gaitskill story, which really wasn't that bad, and I had this one girl refuse to read it. But better that reaction than no reaction at all.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Conversation with Donald Ray Pollock, 2015
A teacher’s experience shows that even reluctant engagement with literature is valuable, as any reaction is better than none.
In simple terms: Even a negative response to a story is better than no response.
Key Takeaway
Encourage students to engage, even if they resist.
Themes
education
literature
engagement
resistance
growth
Mood
reflective
encouraging
thoughtful
Type
educational
motivational
When to use this quote
- classroom teaching
- reading assignments
- student motivation
- literary workshops
Key Concepts
pedagogy
psychology
literary criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- What can you do to make difficult texts more accessible?
- How does resistance reveal deeper interests?
A Different Perspective
Students may feel alienated by challenging material.
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![“I look upon [writing about religion] as a nice way to get by in this precarious world, though I've never been able to do it myself.” quote by Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1a5/donald-ray-pollock-7796_able_i-look-upon-writing-about-religion-as-a_316097.jpg)
