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.)
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.
Anonymous wrote:Isn't that one of the things Common Core is trying to change? Having students read more non-fiction?
In the old days, they knew less about these topics
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 (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 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.