Let high schoolers choose what they read
Kristin Dragos
Issue date: 8/31/09 Section: Opinion
In an article from The New York Times, Motoko Rich discusses a new and innovative strategy to get students reading. This new strategy of giving students the freedom to read what they want has been met with some criticism. What is the purpose of reading literature in school? Is it to give all students a common background of literature? Or is it to create a community of lifelong readers?
As an English education major, I've come across numerous situations where people assume that I have read a book, usually a classic title fairly common on high school reading lists, and they are surprised to find out that I've never read it. I am always surprised to find out that many people have read it. Just because people share in the experience of reading a book in school, doesn't guarantee they will have the same background of it or even discuss the book outside of school. When people read a book that they like, they usually recommend it to others and talk about it with people who've also read it.
Giving students a choice in what they read seems like such a common sense idea. If they read a book they love, they will talk about it and continue reading. The students will also feel that they have the ability to choose books that are good, and they will feel more confident when going to the bookstore and buying a book. They will understand that they have the right to like or dislike a book, and they will be able to explain why.
I feel that I need to applaud Western's professors who've taught me and other education majors that by giving students a say in anything, they will be more accepting of the idea or task. I read this article, and I simply say to myself, "Well duh! Of course the students will do better on the standardized tests. They will have read more and comprehended more." Student choice isn't a new idea. If it is, then our professors are teaching us the most up-to-date strategies and information, and for that, I thank them.
The strategy of student choice could apply to other areas. Maybe if professors offered students a choice in the course textbooks each semester, students would be more accepting of the idea of buying and eventually reading the textbooks.
As an English education major, I've come across numerous situations where people assume that I have read a book, usually a classic title fairly common on high school reading lists, and they are surprised to find out that I've never read it. I am always surprised to find out that many people have read it. Just because people share in the experience of reading a book in school, doesn't guarantee they will have the same background of it or even discuss the book outside of school. When people read a book that they like, they usually recommend it to others and talk about it with people who've also read it.
Giving students a choice in what they read seems like such a common sense idea. If they read a book they love, they will talk about it and continue reading. The students will also feel that they have the ability to choose books that are good, and they will feel more confident when going to the bookstore and buying a book. They will understand that they have the right to like or dislike a book, and they will be able to explain why.
I feel that I need to applaud Western's professors who've taught me and other education majors that by giving students a say in anything, they will be more accepting of the idea or task. I read this article, and I simply say to myself, "Well duh! Of course the students will do better on the standardized tests. They will have read more and comprehended more." Student choice isn't a new idea. If it is, then our professors are teaching us the most up-to-date strategies and information, and for that, I thank them.
The strategy of student choice could apply to other areas. Maybe if professors offered students a choice in the course textbooks each semester, students would be more accepting of the idea of buying and eventually reading the textbooks.
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