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.)