From The New York Times (gift link): “Kids Rarely Read Whole Books Anymore. Even in English Class.” Sigh. And sigh again.
See also Natalie Wexler, “Beyond Excerpts” (American Educator ):
We have to recognize that limiting students to brief texts seen as vehicles for teaching comprehension skills is an illusory and self-defeating approach. Technology and other societal pressures present new and daunting challenges to students’ abilities and attention spans, but our best chance of addressing those challenges is to center whole books in the K–12 curriculum.I read that article and that essay as someone who once taught Bleak House and Infinite Jest in sophomore-level gen-ed classes. I’m with Andrew Polk, a tenth-grade English teacher quoted in the Times article: “Students absolutely can and do rise to the occasion. It’s just a matter of setting those expectations.” Yes, great expectations.
One of the most poignant comments I ever got on a student evaluation form: “This is the first class in which I read an entire book.” Imagine the sense of accomplishment that student must have felt.
comments: 7
"Yes, great expectations." The Dickens, you say.
this is so sad! coming from someone who read lots of tolstoy including war and peace in high school. some people do figure out how to work around not being able to read (memorizing stuff) but somehow i don't expect many younger people to be do that.
kirsten
I just remembered: In elementary school we used to have "silent reading" times. I don't remember the nonreaders fidgeting, perhaps they daydreamed. I wonder if silent reading has been dropped in deference to modern kids having a lower attention span.
Sean, an informant tells me that silent reading still sometimes happens, but it’s not considered the best use of classroom time.
Kirsten, you remind me that I tried reading Ulysses in high school (I loved A Portrait of the Artist, so why not?). I like the story John Holt tells about fifth-graders deciding to read Moby-Dick, not knowing that it was supposed to be beyond them.
Not the best use of time at least when kids are just learning to read. It’s considered more appropriate later on.
Ulysses, eh? I used to infuriate a book lover who didn't get my joke: "I thought Ulysses was a classic, right up there with the Iliad, but when I looked at it—I tell you, it reads like a stupid stream of consciousness!"
Ha! I remember that in high school I pronounced it overrated after a few pages. Later on, I caught on.
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