Why, oh why, do the schools still ask students to read so much fiction?

[Anonymous]

I mean, the kids are taking a reading course and they spend a ton of time on Greek Mythology which has NO, ZERO application in their lives today. Maybe if you go on Jeopardy.
Would it not make more sense to have the kids read a good review article on diabetes that about the Greeks? You kill two birds with one stone, first they REAd and the yearn helpful information.
SICK of the Greeks and Shakespeare.

[Anonymous]

Is this a joke?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Is this a joke?

I hope so!

[Anonymous]

lol OP.

[Anonymous]

I thought this thread was going to be bitching about stuff like Catcher in the Rye and To Kill A Mockinbird. Seriously? Shakespeare and Greek myths are too much for you? Next you won't want your kid to know anything about the Bible either. Tell us OP, where did you go to school? How many books are there in your house?

[Anonymous]

"When we are born, we cry that we are come to this great stage of fools." --William Shakespeare

[Anonymous]

Really, OP…I'm guessing you are not in the educational field to have any understanding about the reasons kids are asked to read and analyze various pieces of fiction - analytical skills, historical context, understanding the references that are made on a daily basis from Greek mythology (to use your example) - and yes, even those stupid Hollywood movies I'm guessing you love are often based on mythological stories.

Scientific articles are valuable and should be read in a science class (and any good, progressive school is using a variety of sources for information from textbooks to the internet and other periodicals). However, reading a scientific article does not provide as valuable vocabulary, history, grammatical context as a story of fiction - not to mention creativity and analysis.

My goodness, I feel for your kids if all you want them to read is dry science…what a lack of imagination and creativity!

[Anonymous]

Obviously, OP's children are not at an age yet where they are fighting each other to get their hands on all the Percy Jackson books...I am sick of mythology as well, but for different reasons!

[Anonymous]

Idk... Probably because they read about science, health, and history in science, health, and history classes...

[Anonymous]

I'm with you OP. It's truly shocking how scientifically illiterate most people are and frankly I think all the hours spent on literature in K-12 is a big fat waste of time. Haters gonna hate but that's my honest opinion. I had it all shoved down my throat as a kid, never got anything out of it, and now as an adult I never, ever read fiction and it doesn't negatively impact my life in any way. But having a good grasp of statistics and the scientific method is helpful to me every single day. And sadly, I know all too many supposedly educated adults who managed to graduate from college without developing either of those skills. Sad!

[Anonymous]

I love Greek Myths and Shakespeare and DS reads that as well as Percy Jackson. I do agree with OP that they need to have more opportunities to be able to stay focused on dry material. They will need it in middle to high school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really, OP…I'm guessing you are not in the educational field to have any understanding about the reasons kids are asked to read and analyze various pieces of fiction - analytical skills, historical context, understanding the references that are made on a daily basis from Greek mythology (to use your example) - and yes, even those stupid Hollywood movies I'm guessing you love are often based on mythological stories.

Scientific articles are valuable and should be read in a science class (and any good, progressive school is using a variety of sources for information from textbooks to the internet and other periodicals). However, reading a scientific article does not provide as valuable vocabulary, history, grammatical context as a story of fiction - not to mention creativity and analysis.

My goodness, I feel for your kids if all you want them to read is dry science…what a lack of imagination and creativity!

I'm curious why you don't think that any sort of non-fiction readings could possibly provide any vocabulary, history, or grammar lessons? (Also, LOL at the idea that kids read science articles in science class. MAYBE in AP science in high school.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought this thread was going to be bitching about stuff like Catcher in the Rye and To Kill A Mockinbird.

I would a thousand times rather read Greek myths than that boring shit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm with you OP. It's truly shocking how scientifically illiterate most people are and frankly I think all the hours spent on literature in K-12 is a big fat waste of time. Haters gonna hate but that's my honest opinion. I had it all shoved down my throat as a kid, never got anything out of it, and now as an adult I never, ever read fiction and it doesn't negatively impact my life in any way. But having a good grasp of statistics and the scientific method is helpful to me every single day. And sadly, I know all too many supposedly educated adults who managed to graduate from college without developing either of those skills. Sad!

You're missing out. I've learned as much about the world from fiction as I have from things that are "true."

[Anonymous]

Isn't that one of the things Common Core is trying to change? Having students read more non-fiction?