Bryan asked, What do you find to be the biggest problem with reading in today’s formal education system?
I think the biggest problem with reading in today’s schools is that students are not free to choose what they read. In the majority of high school English classes, the curriculum consists of a list of books that the class reads and discusses one by one. This ensures that the students study a wide range of literature. The thought behind this is a good one. After all, many students would stick to reading modern teenage dramas or fantasies instead of reading older classics or exploring European authors.
On the other hand, when students have absolutely no say in what they read, they can often have trouble getting invested in the text. They may not take any interest in it or might resent being assigned the book. I know that happened to me when I was in high school. It’s hard to appreciate something you’re being forced to analyze.
What I think would be a good solution is if curriculums were opened up into more of a book report style. For every unit, students receive a short list of different texts they can choose to read and analyze that all surround a certain theme. For instance, in the first three weeks, the students would be given a list of Romantic works to choose from. The next three weeks, they would pick from a list of classic plays. Etc.
My question in response is this: Do you think it is more beneficial to read aloud in class as a group, or to read silently to yourselves?
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