Update from the original poster here. D's friends who are still in the awful English class were complaining today. Apparently they are using "interpretive dance to illustrate Thoreau" this week. The teacher of the other section (D will have her next quarter for English) has chosen NOT to employ that part of the curriculum, so D is feeling very thankful about making the move.

Her older sister said, "Thoreau also used to sit naked in the woods. They could do THAT for experiential learning!".