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

[Anonymous]

Op clearly doesn't get it. She seems very literal and frankly probably very boring. If she is a scientist that is great but it doesn't make the whole world go around. I happen to be a classicist and egads teach it to hundreds of students for whom it opens up a whole new fascinating world. Most are very inspired by it. Surely you can see that a well balanced education makes for well balanced people.

[Anonymous]

"It takes a long time to read a book."

And . . . kids' attention spans are too long, now? Really?

I (middle-aged) get that fewer people read books now. But, for some parents of school-aged parents to be decrying reading literature, I admit I do find that to be rather scary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I am a scientist, so is DH. I just think that fiction being a "model" of true life is crazy, why not just use real life? One Shakespeare play per year in HS should be adequate. The rest should be about history, industry, economics, medicine, law, finances and so on. These would make excellent topics for and "English" teacher to work with.
In the old days, they knew less about these topics and we did not include them in a classical education, but times have changed. A child can learn to be a great writer by reading history books instead of Greek Mythology.

BTW, we have tons of books in our house, but no fiction.

I feel sorry for the arid, desolate existence that your family inhabits.

[Anonymous]

I (middle-aged) get that fewer people read books now. But, for some parents of school-aged parents to be decrying reading literature, I admit I do find that to be rather scary.

More than scary. Sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I am a scientist, so is DH. I just think that fiction being a "model" of true life is crazy, why not just use real life? One Shakespeare play per year in HS should be adequate. The rest should be about history, industry, economics, medicine, law, finances and so on. These would make excellent topics for and "English" teacher to work with.
In the old days, they knew less about these topics and we did not include them in a classical education, but times have changed. A child can learn to be a great writer by reading history books instead of Greek Mythology.

BTW, we have tons of books in our house, but no fiction.

"A child can learn to be a great writer by reading history books instead of Greek Mythology."

Possibly, but YOU aren't even a GOOD writer.

[Anonymous]

In the old days, they knew less about these topics

Suggest you go read letters and other writings of the Founding Fathers.

[Anonymous]

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

Seems that they read more biographies now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I am a scientist, so is DH. I just think that fiction being a "model" of true life is crazy, why not just use real life? One Shakespeare play per year in HS should be adequate. The rest should be about history, industry, economics, medicine, law, finances and so on. These would make excellent topics for and "English" teacher to work with.
In the old days, they knew less about these topics and we did not include them in a classical education, but times have changed. A child can learn to be a great writer by reading history books instead of Greek Mythology.

BTW, we have tons of books in our house, but no fiction.

I'm curious, do you actively discourage your kids from reading fiction? Do they like reading?

I come from a family of avid readers (of fiction and non-fiction). My brother is a biochemist, and devours fiction. I believe having a well-rounded background and interests - which includes an interest in fiction - makes him a better communicator, provides him with a greater understanding of the world, and ultimately makes him a better scientist.

I can't imagine only reading non-fiction. I love the stories in fiction.

And as someone with a history background, I have to point out that an understanding of Greek mythology is key to understanding history - it's not like there's this thing called "history" that existed independently of the beliefs and stories that helped guide it.

[Anonymous]

I recomend googling 'On the reading of old books' by CS Lewis. He said it better than I can.
BTW, I am a scientist in the biomedical field and love old fiction, esp. British classics.

[Anonymous]

Is this a joke? I can't believe an educated person is actually concerned by this. Any quick google search can give you many reasons why we should read historical fiction including mythology.

[Anonymous]

Op this is the saddest thing I've read in a long time.

If I extrapolate your premise you think we should have no entertainment all in society unless you can benefit from it scientifically or economically. I hope I never have to live in your world.

[Anonymous]

I'm honestly horrified by your op. I say that as someone who was math/science oriented, struggled with Honors English in high school and got an engineering degree.

It wasn't until I was out of college, matured a bit and "lived a little" that I was able to appreciate great literature. But I was still better for having been exposed earlier. Here's an article that I read just last week that I think is relevant to the discussion - http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303663604579503700159096702?mobile=y

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.)

I never said that non-fiction reading does not provide the above things, but most non-fiction writing is dry and limited in its use of vocabulary and certainly limited on the creative side. Only reading non-fiction limits a person's exposure. Reading should be about fun….if you don't find pleasure in sitting down to a great book than I truly and honestly feel sorry for you. It's one of life's great pleasures!

Also, I'm truly sorry that your kids are not being exposed to articles in science…my kids' teachers have been providing various periodicals and sources for every one of their classes - sciences, history, economics (in high school) and geography - since their elementary school years - they are now teenagers. If your kids are only being exposed to dated textbooks than you should be questioning your school. Or you should be helping them to find good additional sources to expand their knowledge base. Gone are the years that kids only learn from textbooks.

[Anonymous]

OP, I feel somewhat sorry for you. Art (including literary arts) are what make us human. Literature is just as worthy of serious study as any other subject and in fact can tell us a great deal about history.

Incidentally, Greek mythology is history. Could you study India without Hinduism? How then could you study the ancient world without their religious mythology? As for your thoughts on a classical education -- there is a reason that Shakespeare and Homer's works have survived the centuries.

My teen will loves science and everything related. She presently dreams of becoming a chemist. But she loves Shakespeare (especially Richard III), named her pet after a Greek goddess, and curls up with the latest crappy YA fantasy novel with pure pleasure.

It may "take seconds to stare at a painting." It takes me seconds to stare at pretty Chinese calligraphy and admire the beauty of it but I walk away as ignorant of what I observed as when I started. Visual art, like literature, frequently draws upon historical and/or religious themes. Where is the joy Ito "stare at a painting" for a few seconds when I don't understand the context? How can I grasp the artist's hard work, his concept, his ability to use color and space and shadow to create a unified whole if I only stare at his work for a few seconds?

OP, you really are to be pitied. I love history and I have a history degree. One of my great personal pleasures is experiencing history through the filter of literature, art, and music. Be it dragging my kids to see a Lope de Vega play, reading an Isabel Allende or Chinua Achebe novel, or visiting the National Portrait Gallery to see the Ballet Rousses (sp) exhibit.

[Anonymous]

Irony Alert!

The Iliad and The Odyssey are in the NON-FICTION section of libraries...