Readicide

While Gallagher’s opinion that schools are ruining books is correct, I do not believe that adding genre fiction into the curriculum of books will be effective in increasing children’s love of books.  It is the way children are being taught to analyze books that is truly killing their love of them.  They should not have to grapple at their pens and post-its every time they wish to read onto the next chapter in the book—they should learn to appreciate the novel for what they interpret it to be.  Over-analyzation over the plot and the “hidden message” in books is tiring.  No wonder they scoff at lack-luster thrill derived from books when the teacher tells them their opinion is not correct and continues on preparing them for the next test.  Over-night reading of complicated texts, such as Macbeth, would benefit from book circles and the help from their peers; reading Twilight is a cop out of learning to read classical pieces.

Agreeably though, I do believe that every once in a while a break from older literature is necessary for children because they must be taught to other types of books besides literary fiction.  Is it right to shove old-timey novels down their throats when there are plenty of other genres out there that children can make connections with?  Teachers often stick to the curriculum they were taught in school and I believe that English teachers are the worst perpetrators.  Of the hundreds of novel genres, the school only teaches one; how would it be if their science and history classes were the same?  English is become a sorry excuse for academic subject when all around them the times and devices are changing.  Left in the dust, English class has become a daunting subject to learn due to the lack of teaching ability and change the curriculum needs to see to garner children’s interest.