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Originally Posted by JSWolf
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies would engage the students much more then the original. 
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Originally Posted by Sirtel
Depends. The boys, maybe. Personally I detest zombies. Eugh.
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In my high school English class we were allowed on at least one occasion to choose which book to read and report on. I think there must have been a list we could select from (it's been many years, don't remember for sure.) I (as a girl) chose Pride and Prejudice which I enjoyed and have reread a few times over the years because I enjoyed Austen's writing style and humor. As I recall the other girls generally made similar choices, such as the Brontes, while the boys chose things like "Lord of the Flies" or maybe some Hemingway.
We also, as a whole class, read Romeo and Juliet. The teacher did show us a film of that one to try to help get us interested. I remember disliking Romeo and Juliet because of the ending, not because of having to deal with the older version of English.
Would I read a Shakespeare play today just for entertainment? Probably not. But I am not sorry I read a couple of them in school.
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Originally Posted by issybird
Is calculus relevant to the lives of the students? Physics? Medieval history? Geometry? I’m old school, but anyone who thinks kids are in school for enjoyment has missed the point, IMO.
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I didn't enjoy math classes at all, but I wouldn't say math is "rubbish" or shouldn't be required just because I personally didn't like it.
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Originally Posted by barryem
I also don't think it's possible to decide in advance what will be a classic unless you have access to a time machine.
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Agreed
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Originally Posted by Pulpmeister
I've long held the view that "classics" (not a name that I like, I prefer "greats") are those books which, whether or not they were best sellers, have durability and popularity with the reading public long after the author is dead. They may be badly written, or beautifully written, but to survive for a hundred, or even hundreds of years, after the author is gone is a sure sign that those books have hit a nerve in some way, give some welcome light into their readers' lives.
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Agreed
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Originally Posted by JSWolf
Physics, Medieval history, and Geometry are not going to take something away from the kids. English class may take away reading for enjoyment.
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Some of my math and science classes definitely took away my enjoyment of my school days....