RTW: High School Required Reading

Today’s Road Trip Wednesday question at YA Highway is:

In high school, teens are made to read the classics – Shakespeare, Hawthorne, Bronte, Dickens – but there are a lot of books out there never taught in schools. So if you had the power to change school curriculums, which books would you be sure high school students were required to read?

My initial reaction was The Bible. But then I thought that might be too controversial. But then I thought again. Like it or not, the Bible has played such a central role in our culture, helping to frame our legal system, and providing the backdrop to so many classic works of literature. Indeed, I recall sharing a house with an English major in my last year at university, and some of her essays were littered with biblical references just on the basis of quotations and allusions in classic works. So from a literary and historical point of view–let alone spiritual–not requiring high school student to read the Bible  (and, indeed, going to the other extreme) does them a great disservice.

I don’t doubt some of you will disagree with me–perhaps quite passionately. But the question was asked, and that’s my answer. 🙂

What book would you require high school students to read? Feel free to answer in the comments, or better still, post your answer on your blog and leave a link on the YA Highway comments.

cds

Colin D. Smith, writer of blogs and fiction of various sizes.

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6 Responses

  1. JuHaygert says:

    I confess I didn’t think about the Bible at all.
    I’m glad you brought it to the table and stand tall behind your choice 😉

  2. MissCole says:

    I went to a Catholic senior school so I didn’t have a choice. My parents had to buy me a bible before I started. I don’t remember what happened to it, but I doubt it survived five years of being moved around in my bag and locker 😛

    My actual choice would be His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, which is really rather anti-Catholic and a book my school was completely against. But my reasons aren’t because of that but because of the adventure, Lyra’s amazing character, and the beauty of the language. They are books that changed my life and I feel very strongly about them.

  3. E.Maree says:

    “His Dark Materials” is an interesting choice – I adored the series when I was in high school, still do now but I also understand a lot of the meanings behind it a lot more.

    Does your local curriculum have a Religious Education class? That class was a bit of a skive in my school, but it has so much potential – it had a heavy focus on religious requirements and rituals, but it also occasionally covered key bible stories, and stories from the other holy books. I’d have loved to have covered a wider range of religious mythology. (Not sure if mythology is the right word, sorry – midnight here so I’m a little zonked.)

    A class that covers all the different religious texts and stories in an engaging way would be fascinating.

  4. Hmm, good choice. I went to a Christian school for about five years and I enjoyed the Bible classes we had to take. There is much to be learned from it, even if you’re not a Christian. (Although I am.) And there is a plethora of literature that references the Bible as well, so it would do students good to understand the direct source and to see all of the connections.

  5. Andrew Shaughnessy says:

    Oh the possibilities…I think to make room I would throw out some of the early American work that is taught simply because it’s the earliest bits from America. Also, add in more classical literature – I was astounded when I got to college and most people had not heard of, let alone read, the Aeneid, Odyssey and Iliad. Then match that up with Renaissance lit, and actually draw the parallels, historical/cultural context, etc… Otherwise, both classical and renaissance lit are just hard to get through and not as enjoyable. On the contemporary front – besides the obvious and fairly standard “To Kill a Mocking Bird” and Ellison’s “Invisible Man,” it would be really good to throw in some of the fun, but still incredibly powerful and deep authors, like Michael Chabon, Umberto Eco, or Salman Rushdie. That way you get across the idea that contemporary authors can be fun and brilliant. Then probably contrast that by making them read some Joyce or David Foster Wallace, just to show them the sheer depth and complexity of modern literary possibilities, even if it’s tough to get through.

    Also the Bible – otherwise how will they understand all the symbolism and parallels in all the classics they read?

  6. Kris Atkins says:

    That’s a really interesting choice! My sister and brother actually had a teacher who taught the Book of Job as literature in her English class. I never had her, but thought that was interesting. Even if an American is atheist, the fact is we DO live in a Judeo-Christian-influenced society. So I think you’re right–reading the Bible would provide a lot of helpful insight into classic literature for students.

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