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What books should students be forced to read in school? Haggard Send a noteboard - 10/09/2009 06:35:46 AM
Ever since elementary school, I've harbored a bit of resentment toward my teachers about some of the books they forced me to read. I had buried it deep, but my feelings came back this past year while my wife was teaching sixth grade and I saw the books she had her students read. The memories came flooding back.

Most people don't read (we are an exceptional bunch ). I can't help but wonder if this aversion to reading stems from the books they had to read in elementary school. Most of the books I had to read, or that were available at the school library, were quite depressing and sad.

Some of the books I had to read in elementary school:

Sounder
Bridge to Terabithia
Old Yeller
Where the Red Fern Grows
Summer of Swans
Island of the Blue Dolphin
Pigman
The Chocolate War
Books by Judy Blume, Katherine Patterson, etc

There were others that I can't remember (it's been a long, long time...). Don't get me wrong, some of the books are very good but I remember dreading them as a kid. Or at the end of them being devastated. There were books that I really liked (A Wrinkle in Time; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; The Indian in the Cupboard), but they were outnumbered by the dislikes.

Is it important for kids to read these books? Were my teachers particularly cruel? Did you get to read more fun books? Has the situation changed in more recent years (I was in elementary school in the mid/late 80s)? Does forcing kids to read books that they'll not enjoy do more harm then good? (I'm talking esp of elementary students, but an interesting tangential discussion would be if/which classics older students be forced to read....)

My wife teaches in a very poor rural school district where most of the students come from very difficult home situations. It seems to me that introducing fantasy and adventure can help the students escape from their problems for a few hours and realize that there are better things out there. Some of the books I recommended to her (when she's not constrained by the curriculum) include The Chronicles of Prydain, Harry Potter (of course), anything by Roald Dahl, The Tripod books by John Christopher, etc. Unfortunately, she got moved to 2nd grade this year. But what other suggestions do you have for future reference?

Edit: Because of my age, I consider elementary school to be K-6. We didn't have middle schools in the olden days. (Junior High was 7-9). The books I've listed were assigned in 5th and 6th grade, or were recommend during Library.
*MySmiley*
I'm drinkin' some George Jones,
and a little bit of Coe
Haggard's easin' my misery
and Waylon's keepin' me from home
Hank's givin' me those high times-
Cash is gonna sing it low
I'm here gettin' wasted-
just like my country heroes
-Hank III
This message last edited by Haggard on 10/09/2009 at 04:35:28 PM
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What books should students be forced to read in school? - 10/09/2009 06:35:46 AM 1244 Views
I honestly don't remember being assigned any books to read in elementary school. - 10/09/2009 06:43:59 AM 850 Views
I honestly don't remember... - 10/09/2009 08:30:24 AM 894 Views
We are an exceptional lot. - 10/09/2009 04:40:30 PM 932 Views
I remember being forced to read a few novels - 10/09/2009 08:41:47 AM 854 Views
Should the parents or the students choose the books? - 10/09/2009 05:05:45 PM 841 Views
Let the students choose. - 11/09/2009 06:14:29 AM 946 Views
None - 10/09/2009 08:50:40 AM 950 Views
Re: None - 10/09/2009 05:15:16 PM 1126 Views
I think it really doesn't matter - 10/09/2009 09:22:36 AM 828 Views
I don't remember reading books in elementary school - 10/09/2009 09:46:23 AM 808 Views
Exactly my feelings. - 10/09/2009 05:24:11 PM 845 Views
I feel being forced to read a book ruins it - 10/09/2009 01:06:42 PM 900 Views
in elementary school, we weren't forced to read certain books until around 4th or 5th grade - 10/09/2009 02:22:34 PM 927 Views
Don't leave us hanging! What was the ONE book? *NM* - 10/09/2009 05:27:40 PM 420 Views
I really have no--oh that's what it was - 10/09/2009 07:27:24 PM 900 Views
I ended up liking that book... - 10/09/2009 10:39:12 PM 1542 Views
I'm not sure what's wrong with most of your list. - 10/09/2009 02:23:48 PM 900 Views
Good question. - 10/09/2009 05:49:24 PM 876 Views
Beverly Cleary should be good for that age. She did Mouse and the Motorcycle. - 10/09/2009 04:09:42 PM 814 Views
Roald Dahl is always a good choice - 10/09/2009 05:12:09 PM 978 Views
I'd forgotten about Beverly Cleary. Good choice. *NM* - 10/09/2009 05:51:33 PM 394 Views
That was a long time ago. - 10/09/2009 04:53:24 PM 931 Views
The Three Musketeers - 10/09/2009 06:31:31 PM 828 Views
I read this in seventh grade, LOVED IT! - 18/09/2009 01:44:01 AM 1057 Views
I don't think forcing books on kids is the way to get them to enjoy reading - 10/09/2009 10:44:08 PM 1652 Views
I do wonder generally about the curriculum being set for schools - 10/09/2009 10:44:24 PM 912 Views
books - 10/09/2009 10:51:13 PM 835 Views
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is da bomb!!! Should be mandatory for elementary. *NM* - 11/09/2009 02:59:38 AM 402 Views
Which movie do you like better? (Now with lickable wallpaper!) - 11/09/2009 05:23:45 AM 951 Views
Neither. Both were horrible. *NM* - 11/09/2009 12:13:07 PM 408 Views
No way, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is awesome! - 11/09/2009 01:12:07 PM 841 Views
Bridge to Terabithia - 11/09/2009 03:23:18 AM 809 Views
For Australian students - A Fortunate Life by A.B.Facey *NM* - 11/09/2009 03:39:23 AM 424 Views
I can't help but think, - 11/09/2009 03:07:36 PM 941 Views
I think it should be mostly up to the teacher - 11/09/2009 08:22:59 PM 830 Views
I think it's a good idea to let kids choose their book... - 13/09/2009 07:33:47 PM 992 Views
Umm ... my 'reading' class was like ... - 18/09/2009 01:56:11 AM 813 Views

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