Should high school students have to read Shakespeare?

[ETrain]

Would it be possible to get a movie version of some of these posts?

[maianhvk]

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

*shrug* I'd have complained and asked to be allowed to leave class and read the play at home if I 'd been forced to watch a DiCappucino movie.

that were the DiCaprio movie and the play on stage (performed by TNT music theatre and ADG Europe) that made me read the original play

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Yolina

Edit: and in total disagreement with the previous poster, I think students should be made to read classical plays such as Shakespeare or whatever the equivalent for each country is

True, but is reading the original play the only way to do that? And is forcing children to read something which will cause them to stop reading altogether, the right answer?

The only way to get children to appreciate something is by making them curious. You don't teach children to swim by throwing them in the deep and hope they'll resurface again. If you make them curious, they'll go to the library themselves and get the book. If you force it on them, they'll skim the book and forget about it about 5 minutes after they put the book down. If even that.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by maianhvk

that were the DiCaprio movie and the play on stage (performed by TNT music theatre and ADG Europe) that made me read the original play

I had never read Pride and Prejudice. I had started about a dozen times, but never got past the first chapter. Until I saw the movie (from 2005). I then read the book, watched the BBC series (from 1995) and listened to the Audiobook (which I had bought somewhere in 2003 but never listened, same problem as the book, never got past chapter 1...)

But the movie somehow sparked my interest and caused me to finally finish that book...

[Yolina]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

True, but is reading the original play the only way to do that? And is forcing children to read something which will cause them to stop reading altogether, the right answer?

I don't see why it would cause them to stop reading altogether? They are free to read other things that they like. Even if they are shown the film or a theatre production, I think that should be as well as reading the play not instead of. And what it teaches them is that you can't always do only the things you like doing, otherwise how are they ever going to cope in the workplace? Even if you like your job, there's always going to be parts of it that you don't enjoy doing... however, you have to.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by ETrain

Would it be possible to get a movie version of some of these posts?

Just wait for the Schaum's.

[Cyberman tM]

Originally Posted by Yolina

I don't see why it would cause them to stop reading altogether?

Guilt by association.
Shakespeare is horribly hard to read. -> Reading is hard. -> Reading is no fun. -> Why read anything at all if all it gets me is a headache and is annoying?

[mrscoach]

Originally Posted by Yolina

I don't see why it would cause them to stop reading altogether? They are free to read other things that they like. Even if they are shown the film or a theatre production, I think that should be as well as reading the play not instead of. And what it teaches them is that you can't always do only the things you like doing, otherwise how are they ever going to cope in the workplace? Even if you like your job, there's always going to be parts of it that you don't enjoy doing... however, you have to.

You and I know there are things we must do that we don't like, but for teens their world is more black and white, if they don't like this portion, they won't like any of it.

I've seen too many students that the only reading they do is in school and assigned to them. They aren't encouraged at home to read, and some are even discouraged, so there isn't a variety of reading material available to them at home. All their reading experiences are forced on them by teachers and they get the attitude of "I hate reading". They should really be thinking "I hate reading these/this", but it doesn't work that way in their mind.

I applaud teachers who take the initiative and search out new books to study that interest their students. Sometimes that means they study books/stories that are a little below their level, but have a high interest. I'm not saying to only teach those lower level books, but maybe as an intro into a harder book the next time.

I personally have helped teach "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas", which is technically for below high school level students, but works well with students that struggle to read, and really captures most boys interest. We taught this book to 15-19 year olds, and almost all were reading ahead and were asking about more books along the same lines. They also participated in discussions on the book and (mostly) did the assignments. We considered the book a great success.

[Yolina]

Originally Posted by Cyberman tM

Guilt by association.
Shakespeare is horribly hard to read. -> Reading is hard. -> Reading is no fun. -> Why read anything at all if all it gets me is a headache and is annoying?

But surely by the time they get to read Shakespeare, they have also read other books that they have enjoyed? I admit I have problems understanding the attitude that "if something is a bit difficult, I'm not going to bother and just give up instead. "

[Yolina]

Originally Posted by mrscoach

I've seen too many students that the only reading they do is in school and assigned to them. They aren't encouraged at home to read, and some are even discouraged, so there isn't a variety of reading material available to them at home.

That's very sad.

I personally have helped teach "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas", which is technically for below high school level students, but works well with students that struggle to read, and really captures most boys interest. We taught this book to 15-19 year olds, and almost all were reading ahead and were asking about more books along the same lines. They also participated in discussions on the book and (mostly) did the assignments. We considered the book a great success.

Well as long as it gives them a chance to see that there are books out there that they like reading, you can't really ask for more can you

[Cyberman tM]

Originally Posted by Yolina

But surely by the time they get to read Shakespeare, they have also read other books that they have enjoyed?

Possible. Hopefully so. But is forcing Shakespeare worth risking that you ruin all literature for them?

I admit I have problems understanding the attitude that "if something is a bit difficult, I'm not going to bother and just give up instead. "

Define "a bit difficult".
I think it mainly depends on the environment. If you're encouraged and get active help, are not just told, then you'll likely be more willing to put in effort.

It's a matter of effort vs. reward.

I remember when I was forced to learn french in school. I didn't really put in any effort because the system was so completely useless to me, I didn't see the point in even trying.
(The "system" was basically us reading/learning french text without knowing how to even spell the words or letters. Perhaps that works with some people, it doesn't work with me.)

[januaryman]

If Shakespeare is badly taught, then why burden students who may grow older only to hate the thought of his plays. If a teacher can get the excitement across, the love of language and also dispel the fear of 16th century English, then they will benefit. I learned to love the bard only in college. Hamlet, Henry IV parts 1 &2, Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure are but some of the gems out there that I call my favorites.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I had never read Pride and Prejudice. I had started about a dozen times, but never got past the first chapter. Until I saw the movie (from 2005). I then read the book, watched the BBC series (from 1995) and listened to the Audiobook (which I had bought somewhere in 2003 but never listened, same problem as the book, never got past chapter 1...)

But the movie somehow sparked my interest and caused me to finally finish that book...

I had a similar experience with _The Lord of the Rings_.

[treadlightly]

I read many books as a kid before high school english. I loved the utopian fiction material, but after suffering through Shakespeare and Heart of Darkness among others, I didn't read fiction for many years after that. Being forced to read something I didn't like took the enjoyment out of it. Students should have some choice in the subject.

This thread just keeps on going, and stays interesting with a lot of good points being made on all sides of the issue. I would like to comment on something that has not been addressed yet, at least not specifically as far as far as I can tell. This concerns the argument that “forcing” students to read [the original] Shakespeare, or any of the other works of classic literature mentioned, will turn some of them off reading entirely.

Might not selecting a simpler more accessible title in order to assure participation of those students who would be turned off say Shakespeare perhaps turn off students who would do just fine with it? Should the reading choice be selected in order to benefit the lowest common denominator? So let each student select the book he or she wishes to read? That might work if the only objective was to have the child read a book (any book), but what of any class discussion about the title? Also by the grade level at which Shakespeare would be appropriate, if the student can already read at that level he or she has problems beyond the choice of reading.