Quote:
Originally Posted by JSWolf
It's not that something is difficult that's the problem. It's that it's useless. When are kids ever going to need to know how to read the version of English that Shakespeare wrote in? Never. I had to deal with Shakespeare in school and I've never wanted to go back after. It wasn't fun. It wasn't relevant. It was just a waste of time and effort.
Give kids something difficult that will give them useful skills and that's good. Give them something difficult that's not going to give them useful skills and that's a waste of time and effort. Being able to read Shakespeare is not useful.
Also, reading books that have no relevance because they are too old and outdated in the way they were written is a poor way to get kids interested in reading. A good example of a poor book is The Canterbury Tales. Outdated, not relevant and just plain boring. making kids dissect such an outdated work is not going to help the kids learn and it's not going to help them want to read.
|
So every book you read must give you useful skills? I guess I missed that part when I was young, and am afraid I still read books more for enjoyment then for acquiring skills. I do read a fair amount of technical books and sometimes cookbooks and books on other cultures, but I read several books a week just for pure pleasure.
And I think outdated works give you a perspective on how our ancestors were different in their outlooks and way of life.
I feel that understanding something a little difficult is worth the struggle as it expands the part of the brain that deals with this stuff. It gives confidence that most things can be figured out if you persevere. Right now I am struggling with wireless distribution systems, and getting nowhere fast but because I am confident that most things can be figured with enough effort so I will keep at it. And I will keep at it I think, because of managing to overcome educational obstacles and difficulties when I was young.
I've never read Canterbury Tales, so I can't disagree about it's being boring, and the fact that you have in spite of your low opinion of it shows that you are willing and able to overcome obstacles and difficulties as well.
I think both you and I and many others would be a lot less able if school had been a complete sleigh ride.
Helen