[HPFGU-OTChatter] Classic Books in Schools
Sheryll Townsend
s_ings at yahoo.com
Sun Jul 15 00:32:10 UTC 2001
--- catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk wrote:
> 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
I have to agree that it's sad to hear about schools
turning down a gift of books. If even one child in any
of those schools would read just one book, it would be
worth the effort the school would invest in
cataloguing and shelving the books. Who knows which
book might spark a child to turn into someone like my
daughter who borrows 17 books from the library at time
(that's the limit for anyone under 18).
Sheryll
=====
"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup."
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