The Catcher in the Rye: Mr. Spencer and Holden's Academics

Mr. Spencer was a very nice man who taught Holden history at Pencey Prep. I think he seems like a very nice person. He does not play a large role in the story, but he still affects Holden in a way. He realizes that Holden is a smart boy, but he simply does not try or care when it comes to school. Taking this into account, Mr. Spencer tries to rid Holden of his apathy toward school. This attempt of course is unsuccessful. It’s really a shame too because I think Holden would be an excellent student if he tried even an ounce at school at anything other than English. He claims that he does try, but he does not fool me. I know that he does not care about his grades. All I know is that he likes English class, which may be the only reason he attends class in the first place. Well at least he likes something in school. He even agrees to write one of Stradlater’s English papers for him. He gets beat up for it, but that is beside the point. There is not much else to say about Holden’s academic career. The reader knows that he has been kicked out of many boarding schools in the past including his most recent of Pencey Prep., but Holden does not elaborate too much on the subject of school. I am okay with it, but it may have been entertaining to hear what he had to say about how phony and dumb school is. I also wish that Salinger would have included more of Mr. Spencer into the writing. I think he is an interesting character that may have had a lot to offer, but the reader never really got to know him. Even a page or two more about him would have been okay with me to learn more about him because he had such an effect on Holden’s school life.