Should Students Be Allowed to Choose Their Own Books to Read in English Classes? - Page 2 - The Lounge Discussion and Review on Literature, Arts, Culture

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Should Students Be Allowed to Choose Their Own Books to Read in English Classes?

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09-08-2009 , 03:11 AM

#26

Knucklehead.

journeyman

Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 342

I hated reading in school until I read "A brief History of Time." If I was allowed to chose popular science books I would have enjoyed English.

I just couldn't believe the trash they would make us read. I can't stand fiction.

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09-08-2009 , 08:22 AM

#27

SoloAJ

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 16,324

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knucklehead.

What are your thoughts on historical non-fiction? Or somethign like In Cold Blood? I realize the scope may not be as wide as most non-fiction, but it is a real event and all.

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09-08-2009 , 05:01 PM

#28

M8Ludi

adept

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,055

Just when you thought the fruitcakes could not possibly dumb-down public education any further...
If you are truly interested in the education of your children and cannot afford a private or parochial education for your kids, I cannot think of a good reason why you would not choose home schooling even if it means cutting back and surviving on one income.
If you are just looking for a publicly financed baby-sitter while you lead your own lives, then that is another matter.
The once-flaunted American public education has become a pathetic embarrassment.

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09-08-2009 , 05:22 PM

#29

Blarg

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 53,527

So your kid gets socialized better, for one very big thing. It's easy to learn to always get along reasonably well at home and where you're treated like one in a billion. That doesn't tell you anything about how to get along with people who are not like you and don't necessarily give a damn about you in any way whatsoever, from peers to superiors to anyone else. It's tough to catch up when you've been poorly socialized, from what I've seen. And it can be very obvious to others.

I see no particular reason to believe most parents are good teachers, as well.

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10-09-2009 , 12:04 AM

#30

Blarg

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 53,527

Bumping this for PVN's discussion of the virtues of home schooling.

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10-09-2009 , 12:08 AM

#31

SoloAJ

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 16,324

My students seem to be reading much more than I expected. I have students choosing non-popular books and still giving me a convincing book review, either written or oral. I'm surprised.

Obviously, many students still read like 30 pages and their review is trash, but whatever. I am glad to see that they are reading more than they thought they would. Freshmen aren't smart enough to get by without reading, yet. At least, not most. Some do, but eh.

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10-09-2009 , 12:31 AM

#32

daveT

S.A.G.E. Master

Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 23,955

I stand adamantly against home schooling, even if I feel I am far smarter than the average bear. Every reason I have heard or read has been "I don't want my child to have to face competition," "Improficient teachers," "Don't want my child judged," "Wastes too much time walking between classes," and I'll think of more later.

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10-09-2009 , 01:08 AM

#33

Blarg

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 53,527

The political/religious outliers are the first to endorse home schooling. They essentially quarantine their kids from the infectious evil of contrary ideas. The imagined benefit goes to the satisfaction of parental needs, not toward children.

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10-09-2009 , 02:16 AM

#34

kioshk

Nixonian

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 93,117

I teach the home-schooled kids in my neighborhood to steal for me. Kinda like home school vo-tech. Gives them street smarts, a taste of the real working world, so win-win.

It's all about community.

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10-09-2009 , 08:15 AM

#35

SoloAJ

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 16,324

I'm aware of small sample, but the three students I have who were homeschooled previously--and this is their first year back--are light years behind where they should be. The two freshmen are failing miserably. The senior has a C, but it's mostly because she puts in the effort. She's not where she should be in terms of writing.

I am no longer a fan of home schooling.At least not until I see a student that it has worked with.

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10-09-2009 , 10:39 AM

#36

daveT

S.A.G.E. Master

Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 23,955

Yeah, it is egotistical beyond comprehension that one parent actually believes s/he can give a better education than a collective of college grads, each majoring in one specified field.

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10-09-2009 , 12:38 PM

#37

orange

Guest

Posts: n/a

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golden_Rhino

They can choose from a list of books (with descriptions) the teacher has approved. This way they get some choice and the teacher doesn't have to mark 32 book reports on Twilight.

yeah, this seems like a good idea. i think that having students choose their own books would be pretty solid...the interest and comprehension level will (probably) go up, and (hopefully) the objective is met.

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10-09-2009 , 04:12 PM

#38

Duke

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 8,027

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveT

Yeah, it is egotistical beyond comprehension that one parent actually believes s/he can give a better education than a collective of college grads, each majoring in one specified field.

The specific field is typically "education," apparently. The few teachers I had that actually knew something about the topic they were teaching were quite good. The other 50 or so were worthless, and bright students who read the material on their own were superior in both knowledge of the subjects and their ability to convey that information to fellow students.

Yeah, most parents who want to home school are ******s and would suck worse than typical teachers, but considering the output of public schools these days they're not going to do much worse.

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10-09-2009 , 04:29 PM

#39

Blarg

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 53,527

It's very dependent on the school district.

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