Reply to Elementary teacher doesn't know Dickens rote Great Expectations

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Is Brit Lit a required course in HS and college?[/quote]

It was a required high school course in Texas when I was growing up.  Junior year was a survey of American literature, Senior year was a survey of British literature.  We read Great Expectations in the 9th grade.  (I don't recall any mention of Dickens in college).

I am so grateful for this comprehensive, systematic approach to literature.  We were able to follow the development of literature (and language) from Beowulf to modern literature.  We were taught enough history to put the literature into context.  I feel like my kids in MCPS have really missed out by having a haphazard approach to literature.

Incidentally, I'm one of the ones who thinks we need to give the teacher a break.  While I know who wrote Great Expectations, I don't think it qualifies as required knowledge.

[b]If America has a "canon", I would love to see it.[/b]  I think the debate over common core illustrates the problem America has on agreeing what topics are necessary for our kids.  Further, while I haven't searched the common core requirements for Great Expectations, my understanding is that they generally de-emphasize literature in favor of non-fiction.  This would lead me to think that Great Expectations will be less likely to be taught in the future.  In fact, as near as I can tell, the only required author is Shakespeare.  [/quote]

"America" doesn't "have" a canon.  One country doesn't decide upon which works of literature are associated with the Western canon.

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