Comments on: Read Away Selfishness: Irrelevance Is Best, Part 2 http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/08/read-away-selfishness-irrelevance-is-best-part-2/ Challenge The Status Quo Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:46:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Laurie http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/08/read-away-selfishness-irrelevance-is-best-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1356 Laurie Sat, 19 Aug 2006 05:25:15 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/08/read-away-selfishness-irrelevance-is-best-part-2/#comment-1356 I guess I was thinking of it from a literary standpoint about how we continue to shove the "classics" in front of kids because that is what we teach. I think that this is part of what stops them from seeing reading is something they need to or want to do. They do read for information: cheat codes for video info, myspace, how to find the perfect jeans, how to make chili macncheese. I guess I want them to see literature in that continuum of what we read. That is not the prevalent attitude. I guess I was thinking of it from a literary standpoint about how we continue to shove the “classics” in front of kids because that is what we teach. I think that this is part of what stops them from seeing reading is something they need to or want to do.

They do read for information: cheat codes for video info, myspace, how to find the perfect jeans, how to make chili macncheese. I guess I want them to see literature in that continuum of what we read. That is not the prevalent attitude.

]]> By: Todd http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/08/read-away-selfishness-irrelevance-is-best-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1348 Todd Sat, 19 Aug 2006 00:35:35 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/08/read-away-selfishness-irrelevance-is-best-part-2/#comment-1348 If I can get students to see that reading can be a joy - the state standards be damned - I've done my job. Sure, start with high-interest texts. I agree with you in terms of the job of an English teacher. But I also wonder if part of our job is to teach that reading isn't always about pleasure. Sometimes it's about exposure and information gathering. It's not always a hedonistic activity (hyperbole, yes, but you get my point). Not every single thing we read is for the joy of it. That doesn't necessarily mean that it's painful to read, by the way. It just means that there are other reasons. I have never read the newspaper because I truly enjoy the prose found there. I've done it because I want to know things, I want to find out what's happening in the world. It's not an enjoyable experience, nor is it a terrible one. It's not about the emotion evoked; it's about the content. If I can get students to see that reading can be a joy - the state standards be damned - I’ve done my job. Sure, start with high-interest texts. I agree with you in terms of the job of an English teacher.

But I also wonder if part of our job is to teach that reading isn’t always about pleasure. Sometimes it’s about exposure and information gathering. It’s not always a hedonistic activity (hyperbole, yes, but you get my point). Not every single thing we read is for the joy of it.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s painful to read, by the way. It just means that there are other reasons. I have never read the newspaper because I truly enjoy the prose found there. I’ve done it because I want to know things, I want to find out what’s happening in the world. It’s not an enjoyable experience, nor is it a terrible one. It’s not about the emotion evoked; it’s about the content.

]]> By: Laurie http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/08/read-away-selfishness-irrelevance-is-best-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1344 Laurie Fri, 18 Aug 2006 23:53:19 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/08/read-away-selfishness-irrelevance-is-best-part-2/#comment-1344 I think most educated adults understand the need to shrink the world in the way you have described. However, I think most of our students read so little that I feel that my job as their English teacher is to get them to find that joy in reading. Then, and only then, will they be able to tackle reading texts that don't immediately interest them. That kind of reading is so much higher on the interest and ability scale that I find it akin to trying to teach a 10-year-old to drive. I think most educated adults understand the need to shrink the world in the way you have described. However, I think most of our students read so little that I feel that my job as their English teacher is to get them to find that joy in reading. Then, and only then, will they be able to tackle reading texts that don’t immediately interest them. That kind of reading is so much higher on the interest and ability scale that I find it akin to trying to teach a 10-year-old to drive.

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