So, let’s compare to the first paragraph of Longfellow’s Evangeline from a longer than one hundred year old reading list to this first paragraph of the more current reading list selection Nothing But the Truth by Avi.
“Coach Jamison saw me in the hall and said he wanted to make sure I’m trying out for the track team!!!! Said my middle school gym teacher told him I was really good!!!! Then he said that with me on the Harrison High team we have a real shot at being county champs. Fantastic!!!!!! He wouldn’t say that unless he meant it. Have to ask folks about helping me get new shoes. Newspaper route won’t do it all. But Dad was so excited when I told him what Coach said that I’m sure he’ll help.”
Really? Seriously? OMG. This is possibly second grade writing at best but teaches nothing. Vocabulary – no. Clearly it paints no enticing picture. Worse the punctuation here is outrageous. Within seven lines of so called writing we’ve 14 exclamation points where none at all are required. For example the word ‘fantastic’ in the context here is an exclamation in itself yet is followed by six – six altogether unnecessary exclamation points. Punctuation overuse writ large. How confusing for students.
Since districts buy this and other books by the same author for use at the seventh and eighth grade level there must be some merit (doubtful); some story to follow but with this as a first paragraph what child wants to continue? It’s rhetorical. No evident history and completely bereft of charm; how deeply our standards fall. And, with them educational accomplishment. How embarrassing for our talented teachers, via mandate, to be presenting such drivel which so lowers learning in their classrooms. Tragic.
Noticeably the more current list contains few titles written longer than 20 years ago. Surely modern writing, if good writing, has its place. Still, it ought not replace the themes critical to learning and understanding how the foundations of American and western civilization have come about. Nor ought settings and references from ancient Greece throughout the Middle Ages be erased from education or we haven’t education.
Classics are in fact interestingly, entertainingly and brilliantly written from word one. The luster of a classic never dulls. These volumes exhibit style, artistry and keen intellect along with creating universes of imagination and thought. It’s beyond me why we would not work to be certain of exposure to and study of classic literature for our children so that each reaches their highest possible level of vocabulary and writing ability.
It appears school board members throughout our Country are unaware, indeed oblivious. Not acceptable. The responsibility falls upon them to ensure a proper education for the students within their districts. Though neither do board members review these lists nor do they ever read the books. For if they were to, and to come across the paragraph here they would, or at least should find it appalling and take immediate action to reverse this trend of drastically lowering standards.
Please watch for Part Four because there is more.
Sadly.
