A Vote for the Goat

When I pull 100 copies of Animal Farm off the shelf each year, they have an old book smell. I know many students will be turned off by their yellowed pages, and to announce that we're going to read about a rebellion of talking animals does not make me look hip. Nor does the history lesson I teach about the Russian Revolution, even when I liken the posh life of the Romanovs to the Kardashians.

However uncool this novella is at first glance, I can't for the life of me it drop it. This is a timeless tale, I insist, a reminder that manipulation of language and corruption is not only found in history books.

Okay, there's no way around it, Animal Farm is dark.

After the lies, slaughter by dogs, forced confessions, and poor Boxer's demise at the glue factory, Orwell leaves us with the image of power hungry, card playing pigs who appear to be men and men who appear to be pigs. The animals, once so hopeful of a utopian life, look on in defeat. This year, rather than finish and say, "Corruption just sucks," I wanted students to say, "Now what?"

Even before reading Chapter 1, the kids list the best qualities of a leader: hard worker, listener, clear communicator, caring, honest, and smart. By Chapter 10, it was obvious Napoleon didn't meet most of their criteria. Then who does? So I asked students to search for leadership potential in unexpected places.

Small groups supported Boxer, Benjamin, Clover, Snowball, or Muriel. All victims of a totalitarian regime, but each with his or her own gifts. "Use your powers of persuasion for good!" I said.

And they did. Our in-class political campaign was a display of evidence that proved the goodness of every candidate. Their counter-arguments acknowledged that no one is perfect, yet they can and will overcome weakness to do the right thing for animals everywhere. Some groups rapped or sang; all spoke emphatically about the unsung talents of heroes.

Boxer won't relent from hard work, and he'll stay true to the mission.

Benjamin may be cynical, but his critical eyes see through to the truth.

Clover's nurturing compassion brings everyone together.

Snowball has big plans, and he's an open book others may read.

Muriel. Wait, who's Muriel? Well she can read, a real plus on the farm, and lends a hoof when others don't. Plus, as her team pointed out, "She's the G.O.A.T.!"

I'm about to reshelve those musty copies of Orwell's classic. While it's not the "greatest of all time" for everyone, I believe those barnyard animals earned a few more fans this time around.