Reply to Is Shakespeare not taught in DCPS?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What’s the value of Shakespeare in the curriculum? Is it for your nostalgic reasons? Just because it’s always been done, does that mean it’s always been right? Do you want to still teach Columbus as a savior and hero?[/quote]

Because one cannot be properly educated in English literature without an understanding of Shakespeare.

Reason number 363,724,623,629,252 my kids are in private schools. DS 12th grade is having an entire semester of Shakespeare.[/quote]

Disagree. If you mean England and their version of events sure. I suppose some exposure to the plays would be helpful culturally. But, the ONLY reason he is so "important" is because of the push to make him important. Their are tons of other better authors and more interesting books for youth than Shakespeare.  And, yes I read in school, I took 2 terms of old English and Shakespeare and the like... I enjoyed it.. but I also enjoyed taking Native American lit, African and Middle eastern, women in lit and South America lit.. truthfully more of that or at least more inclusive lit classes and less time on old dead white guys would have been better. [/quote]

All of the subsequent literature you mention (Native American, women in lit, African, etc.) is only possible to understand and comprehend in Anglo society, because of Shakespeare. His writing and use of the language is peerless. I promise that of all of the "womens lit" classes you took, you did not encounter an author as important to the foundation of culture and society as Shakespeare.

And it doesn't matter if there are (not "their are") "tons" of more interesting books for youth than Shakespeare. School is not a candy factory, dumbed down to the level of teaching what is of interest to teenagers. Sixteen year olds don't know what they need to know. It is up to educated adults to present to students the information that they need to read and digest in order to become properly educated, literate, functioning members of society, and to advance their way in academia. If you don't understand that, your education failed you.[/quote]

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