The books that are "of no interest" to people are exactly the ones that should be required. This is called expanding your mind. Kids can read what's "of interest" to them in their spare time. It's funny: there was a bit of a furore in England this week because the education minister said that To Kill A Mockingbird (and others) should axed from the curriculum because they weren't English. Pretty stupid stuff.
If they were to limit the books kids read to what interests them, they'd be reading all those stupid pokemon books, the graphic novels (and not the ones that are age appropriate either) or simple dumbed down books that simplify history/sports/cultures/whatever. Had it not been assigned in my english class in high school, I never would've read Shakespeare, or Native Son, or Catcher in the Rye. And I'm glad I did. All of the books I read as a senior I'm glad I did. Even if, admittedly, I've probably only read 3 or 4 books since I graduated from college.
I only read obscure german drug fueled isolationist philosophy manifestos. You've probably never heard of them
Bros need to get wasted and bang chicks, do you think bukowski read books? No, he got wasted and banged chicks.
Well, OK, maybe I was using the word "logic" loosely. I am not dictating what others must read. I did say that I think people should read a certain book and that it should be taught in schools. Do others honestly believe that no school (or college) should have assigned reading? That just let everyone read joke books or teen romance novels or somesuch? Yeah, some kids will read serious stuff on their own, but many don't, and shouldn't school be about learning? And shouldn't learning sometimes make you a little uncomfortable? Make you have to think about things, be they Southern segregation, or Nazi holocaust, or internment camps for Japanese-Americans, or cruelty to animals, or Black Death, or whatever (long list) that you really would rather not think about because Kim and Kanye's wedding is sexier? My biggest objection to assigned reading in school English classes was that most of the books assigned I'd already read on my own years before. I guess the downside to having a mother who was an English teacher.
You said it should be "required reading", so if you were in charge, you would be dictating what others read.
I dunno about "required" but I think it's always beneficial to read an opposing viewpoint. And in that situation, it's not like there's thousands of books you'd need to read, just one important one.
Yeah, uh, okay... That is opinion really. And just because it's of no interest doesn't mean that they couldn't read it (if they so chose to) and "expand their mind" as you so put it.
Really? Pokemon? lol. I'm more supportive of the idea that you gather a group of books, present to the class the books, and have them pick one they might find more interesting than another. Write a report or whatever about it and call it good. But required reading and force feeding that shit down a students throat so to speak... meh, not really my idea of proper teaching. But who knows, I'm probably wrong.
That's a pretty solid idea. If you want a set time or author, give the kids a list of 5-10 books. Then they'll have made a choice instead of being forced and might show more interest.
So, mm, you honestly don't think schools should assign books? Serious question. Do you disagree with my opinion that I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings should be assigned reading or with the whole concept of assigning any books? Shouldn't students be exposed to what is not familiar or comfortable? Should atheists read the Bible? Absolutely. It is an important literary work with, obviously, major historic consequences. I think every reasonably educated person should read the Bible and the Quran. Julius, when/where did you attend high school, if you don't mind my asking? Because for us Catcher in the Rye (with no sex and mild cussing) was still considered a communist plot. Native Son? Forget it! We read some Shakespeare, mostly Julius Ceaser, because while regicide was OK sex was not. So no Othello, Richard III. And taught boringly.
Does the required reading list for high school continuously grow or does the next book to be added, push one book off the list? If Maya Angelou was added since I went to high school, whom did she displace?
Required reading doesn't work.. Very few kids will read the books anyways. Most people I know haven't finished a book since middle school.
Oh my! Everyone should read the Koran! It doesn't seem like many in this forum have been willing to do that task.
Of course reading lists must continually revise - otherwise every generation would read things that were 60 years old! As to what a new book would replace, that would be a decision made by the school collectively; not knowing what was on the list I can hardly hypothesize.
But by strongly advocating her book, you must realize you also would push some other book off the list? How do you weight the relative value if you only know half the transaction?
