Anonymous wrote:Maybe her high school required Toni Morrison's Beloved rather than Dickens' Great Expectations......

In my school we read Atlas Shrugged. Much more informative.

ROTE lol

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).

Same here (not in Texas, though). Pretty sure I went to high school long before you.

However, there is a lot of English Literature (British). My guess is not all school systems or teachers use Great Expectations--or even Dickens.

So....she is a bad teacher because in a moment she couldn't remember who wrote (rote, hahaha) Great Expectations? I can't even remember what I had for dinner last night.

Ask yourself this - Do you think if she was teaching a unit on Dickens, she would probably have refreshed her memory? Believe it or not, teachers don't know everything all the time.

It's not about being able to teach the book. Dickens is not some obscure foreign-language writer.

Anonymous wrote:Is Brit Lit a required course in HS and college?

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.

If America has a "canon", I would love to see it. 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.

Anonymous wrote:Actually, to "author" a piece of writing is only used in American English, not British English - and its only meant to be used in reference to articles, journals, legislation - not novels and poems or other more formal, literature.

So to say Dickens' "wrote" is very much more appropriate than to say he "authored"

But if anyone has a link to his blog, I'd love to see it.

An American writing about a British author does assume conventions of British English. How ridiculous. Would you write that "Harry Potter is my kid's favourite author, but Lara's tastes are quite different to those of her brother"? Of course not. This is absurd.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people boasting about their PhDs and high fallutin' degrees should hang their red faces in shame that they don't know Charles Dickens wrote Great Expectations.

I think we prove the point that it made no difference in our ultimate success.

but, let's assume you are right, that knowing Dickens authored Great Expectations, is essential knowledge.... why would you insult or judge someone for not having read this in high school when his/her high school didn't require/offer it? It's not a personal failure to have gone to a high school where it wasn't part of the curriculum. One can presume that those who graduated with various advanced degrees did, in fact, learn to read and analyze complex material (even if they didn't take a test on Great Expectations).

The judgment being levied by OP and others reflects poverty of character. I'd rather have missed the lesson on Dickens than missed the lesson on consideration and humility.

He wrote it. And you're boring. Time to shut up.

Oh, you didn't know "author" is also a verb. It would help you to read more, you know. You would sound more sophisticated, and would learn to communicate effectively without resorting to lowbrow taunts.

I'm sure you're right. About everything.

Not everything. Basic facts about major authors of the canon, yes, but not everything.

Now we know what the problem is: dumbed-down teachers.

a teacher who, presumably, holds a bachelor's degree can be reasonably expected to know basic facts related to English-speaking culture

This

Is Brit Lit a required course in HS and college?

Anonymous wrote:This is common knowledge among educated people who pursue life long learning.

We expect teachers to be among this class of people, or at least we used to. So, yes, not a good thing if a fourth grade teacher doesn't know this. It shows that the teacher isn't reading enough outside her teaching to pick this type of knowledge up ambiently. I knew this in seventh grade before I had even read a Dickens book. Not necessary for her to have read this book as others have said, but she should know Dickens wrote it.

Imagine how respect for teachers would go up if they all actually the core common knowledge of educated people.

This pretty much sums up the entire thread. If OP'd said that her mailman didn't know who wrote "Great Expectations', I'd be the first to call her a snob, but a teacher who, presumably, holds a bachelor's degree can be reasonably expected to know basic facts related to English-speaking culture.

Maybe her high school required Toni Morrison's Beloved rather than Dickens' Great Expectations......

Actually, to "author" a piece of writing is only used in American English, not British English - and its only meant to be used in reference to articles, journals, legislation - not novels and poems or other more formal, literature.

So to say Dickens' "wrote" is very much more appropriate than to say he "authored"

But if anyone has a link to his blog, I'd love to see it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people boasting about their PhDs and high fallutin' degrees should hang their red faces in shame that they don't know Charles Dickens wrote Great Expectations.

I think we prove the point that it made no difference in our ultimate success.

but, let's assume you are right, that knowing Dickens authored Great Expectations, is essential knowledge.... why would you insult or judge someone for not having read this in high school when his/her high school didn't require/offer it? It's not a personal failure to have gone to a high school where it wasn't part of the curriculum. One can presume that those who graduated with various advanced degrees did, in fact, learn to read and analyze complex material (even if they didn't take a test on Great Expectations).

The judgment being levied by OP and others reflects poverty of character. I'd rather have missed the lesson on Dickens than missed the lesson on consideration and humility.

He wrote it. And you're boring. Time to shut up.

Oh, you didn't know "author" is also a verb. It would help you to read more, you know. You would sound more sophisticated, and would learn to communicate effectively without resorting to lowbrow taunts.

I'm sure you're right. About everything.