The
books we are required to read must be in the curriculum there for a reason,
right? I think I understand the school’s intention behind teaching books like To Kill a Mockingbird and Catcher in the Rye, but I never really
respected the books themselves. As a sophomore, I didn’t understand the point
in reading Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Or Macbeth.
But this year, something changed.
As a senior, I highly recommend to any underclassmen to take British Literature senior year. Everything changed in that class. Everything applied. Everything was relevant. I think one of the reasons students feel uninterested or disconnected from books is because they feel like it has nothing to do with them; it doesn’t relate. How can a piece written in the 1600’s apply to the modern world? Reasonable argument. It wasn’t until this year that I felt like class books like Hamlet and Brave New World were actually real, they held significance to me. We were in tune.
Then I think about the underclassmen’s English classes. Romeo and Juliet looks at phases that a majority of adolescents go through. Independence, love, tough family life, it is meant for us to relate too. But maybe it’s not working as much as it has in the past. Students find pleasure in reading modern books so maybe the system needs to change. Why don't teachers try going 50-50 with the classics and modern literature? There's bound to be teachable moments in some of those popular books, and if students are more engaged then that would prove to be a benefit in the classroom.
But this year, something changed.
As a senior, I highly recommend to any underclassmen to take British Literature senior year. Everything changed in that class. Everything applied. Everything was relevant. I think one of the reasons students feel uninterested or disconnected from books is because they feel like it has nothing to do with them; it doesn’t relate. How can a piece written in the 1600’s apply to the modern world? Reasonable argument. It wasn’t until this year that I felt like class books like Hamlet and Brave New World were actually real, they held significance to me. We were in tune.
Then I think about the underclassmen’s English classes. Romeo and Juliet looks at phases that a majority of adolescents go through. Independence, love, tough family life, it is meant for us to relate too. But maybe it’s not working as much as it has in the past. Students find pleasure in reading modern books so maybe the system needs to change. Why don't teachers try going 50-50 with the classics and modern literature? There's bound to be teachable moments in some of those popular books, and if students are more engaged then that would prove to be a benefit in the classroom.
I'm taking britlit next year. I really like how you figured out how Romeo and Juliet could be relate-able
ReplyDeleteYou have a very interesting point in here and I'm glad you believe that novels such as Hunger Games wouldn't be defiled by classroom conversations. It's a debatable side to pick.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your 50-50 approach! So many students would benefit from this!
ReplyDeleteI think you have a good point, if students can find the books more relatable, they'd enjoy them more.
ReplyDeleteI think that the classics are good books to read, and that the teachers do have a point when they make us read them.
ReplyDeleteI really like your 50-50 idea! A lot of kids would enjoy that, and benefit from it.
ReplyDeletei agree with you 100% and <3 the 50-50 idea
ReplyDeletei agree that they should go 50-50 . like they should have us read one of the books they pick and then we should be able to pick a book to.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you
ReplyDeleteI think it's awesome that you found a purpose of your reads from earlier years in a class during your senior. I'm an underclassman and find things relatable but overworked sometimes.
ReplyDelete