I used to love teaching To Kill a Mockingbird. Unfortunately, after my time in Brooklyn, I realize that it's a very difficult book for weak readers. Why make them read it?
Okay, I made an error. It's a great book. But it's only great to read if you are a strong reader. Too few students are strong enough to wade through Scout's long-winded considerations about the Southern culture in which she lives. It's a bygone era that fails to engage current readers who have difficulty imagining what's happening.
If we really want students to be able to read the classics, we need to give them surer footing. A great way to do that is to offer current books. That means having a budget to pay for new books and to hire teachers who are readers (who else will recommend these books after all?). When I was in an all-boys classroom, I spent time with some readers. I strongly recommended Edward Bloor's book Tangerine (and gave copies to those interested), and a funny thing happened: the boys read the book and liked it. I read The Crossover by Kwame Alexander to my class -- they sat and listened! Imagine if we took the time and money to engage kids with reading they wanted to do.
Special classes are often on the chopping block when it comes to tight budgets. On the surface it appears that in our climate of testing, it's okay to shave art and music from the budget. It's been my experience, however, that these cuts are hurting students. When asked to read a passage about the skills needed to forge a piece of art, it would be helpful for students to know the artist who is being forged and the techniques one would use to paint such a forgery.
Anyway, I believe that we need to put literacy in the front of our minds. Tech seems to reign supreme, but it can't hold a candle to a good book.
No comments:
Post a Comment