Classic Books in Schools

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

I just went over to the Guardian site to do the quiz:  got 21/23 
because I didn't know the q. about the American translation or that 
Anthony Horden had written so disparagingly about the books.  They 
did get some Qs wrong though - "Mr" Fluffy?  Goblin gold?  I don't 
think so!

Anyway, my point:
I went to the book page: 
http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,6109,520493,00.html
and found an article saying that 11 schools in the UK have turned 
down a gift from the lottery commission of a £3,000 library of 
classic books, because they are "too difficult" for their pupils.  
Many schools did accept the gift - and £3,000 worth of books actually 
doubled the size of their libraries.

Apparently the books ranged from Homer's "The Iliad" to more modern 
day classics such as "Catch 22."  So I expect the list included all 
the usual suspects such as Austen, Dickens etc.  

I cannot tell you how disappointing I found this.  Not only does it 
reflect very badly on our schools and the state of education and 
literacy, but I think that it also doesn't look good for the 
teachers.  Have they really given up to the point that they no longer 
encourage children to read?  Don't they try and stretch them 
anymore?  

I think it is also sad for the children who are missing out.  I am 
sure that in each of these schools there must be at least a handful 
of children who would appreciate the books.

Catherine