MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Should high school students have to read Shakespeare?

mrscoach · 03-27-2011, 11:16 PM

Let me put in a point that has been completely overlooked on this thread. Teachers have a limited time to teach each section of their class. In Texas it is usually 6 weeks, which is a grading period. Sometimes they can manage more than one section in a grading period. At least as far as teaching English/Literature is concerned.

So, a teacher has six weeks for one of Shakespeare's plays. If they meet every day they usually meet from anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour (usually closer to the 45 minute mark, I believe). If the school is on a block schedule they will have the students every other day for 1 1/2 hours (schools have moved away from this in most of Texas). That is the equivalent of 3.75 hours of class a week, but remember that not all of that time is instruction time. They must also take attendance, take up any homework that was assigned, deal with any other school mandated items, and then try to get the class to start. They must also give feedback on assignments and clarify any points that were missed.

And teachers cannot teach 'bell to bell' because students have to get to the next class, and any end of class chores need to be taken care of (principals say it should be done, but cannot explain how to get everything done while teaching, too). There are also usually some form of disruptions in class, even if it is a student who must be dealt with because of discipline or learning problems, or sheer 'not understanding'.

Pair the short time for instruction with the need to evaulate what is learned (i.e. take grades), and you see a problem arising. Teachers I know hold the movie of any read literature for last, as a reward for getting through the readings. And most schools have to teach highly edited versions of all literature, because of the time constraints I have mentioned.

Why don't the teachers just assign the reading for outside of class and do the instruction only in class? Many try this, but sometimes it is a lack of enough books for the students and so only classroom sets are available, and sometimes it is the impossibility of getting the students to DO the reading.

Also, projects are a way to get the students involved in the learning, so they are doing more than just sitting there like a sponge while a teacher throws water out, hoping the students will soak up some of the knowledge. Research has shown that a multi-prong approach to learning works best, using most of the students senses.

If you have ever tried to teach Shakespeare and explain/translate so a student can understand you would understand how difficult the teachers' job is. Graphic novels are one way to introduce the reading, and hope the student will be hooked enough to pick up the full version some day.

Remember, you can lead a horse to water, and you can even force its head into that water, but you cannot make him drink. You could, however, end up drowning him.

03-27-2011, 11:16 PM	#110
mrscoach Guru Posts: 767 Karma: 4837659 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Angelo Texas Device: Samsung Galaxy tab	Let me put in a point that has been completely overlooked on this thread. Teachers have a limited time to teach each section of their class. In Texas it is usually 6 weeks, which is a grading period. Sometimes they can manage more than one section in a grading period. At least as far as teaching English/Literature is concerned. So, a teacher has six weeks for one of Shakespeare's plays. If they meet every day they usually meet from anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour (usually closer to the 45 minute mark, I believe). If the school is on a block schedule they will have the students every other day for 1 1/2 hours (schools have moved away from this in most of Texas). That is the equivalent of 3.75 hours of class a week, but remember that not all of that time is instruction time. They must also take attendance, take up any homework that was assigned, deal with any other school mandated items, and then try to get the class to start. They must also give feedback on assignments and clarify any points that were missed. And teachers cannot teach 'bell to bell' because students have to get to the next class, and any end of class chores need to be taken care of (principals say it should be done, but cannot explain how to get everything done while teaching, too). There are also usually some form of disruptions in class, even if it is a student who must be dealt with because of discipline or learning problems, or sheer 'not understanding'. Pair the short time for instruction with the need to evaulate what is learned (i.e. take grades), and you see a problem arising. Teachers I know hold the movie of any read literature for last, as a reward for getting through the readings. And most schools have to teach highly edited versions of all literature, because of the time constraints I have mentioned. Why don't the teachers just assign the reading for outside of class and do the instruction only in class? Many try this, but sometimes it is a lack of enough books for the students and so only classroom sets are available, and sometimes it is the impossibility of getting the students to DO the reading. Also, projects are a way to get the students involved in the learning, so they are doing more than just sitting there like a sponge while a teacher throws water out, hoping the students will soak up some of the knowledge. Research has shown that a multi-prong approach to learning works best, using most of the students senses. If you have ever tried to teach Shakespeare and explain/translate so a student can understand you would understand how difficult the teachers' job is. Graphic novels are one way to introduce the reading, and hope the student will be hooked enough to pick up the full version some day. Remember, you can lead a horse to water, and you can even force its head into that water, but you cannot make him drink. You could, however, end up drowning him.