*headdesk*
Mar. 15th, 2004 07:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maderrTaken from the fox news site here.
In Atlanta, students who are "on track to attend college" but have "poor reading skills" are reading Shakespeare without Shakespearean language. Study guides translate Shakespeare into pedestrian modern English, so students don't have to struggle. From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Leon Allen, a student in (Connie) Kollias' class, didn't understand the original line. But he read the translated sentence aloud with ease.
"It's nice because all those ancient words aren't there," he said. "It is a cool story — what with people making plans to kill one another. It can be difficult because everyone has strange names, but at least it isn't using any of those old words anymore."
In one version, "Beware the ides of March" in Julius Caesar becomes "Beware of March 15."
I keep wondering about students who are incapable of reading Shakespearean language yet are considered "on track to attend college." How can they do college-level work if they can't figure out "lend me your ears" isn't about organ transplants? Maybe they'll just "attend" college but not actually pass any courses.
I remember the joy I experienced when I realized that Shakespeare's "hautboys" were oboes and that the word comes from haut bois or high wood. That was so cool.
In Atlanta, students who are "on track to attend college" but have "poor reading skills" are reading Shakespeare without Shakespearean language. Study guides translate Shakespeare into pedestrian modern English, so students don't have to struggle. From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Leon Allen, a student in (Connie) Kollias' class, didn't understand the original line. But he read the translated sentence aloud with ease.
"It's nice because all those ancient words aren't there," he said. "It is a cool story — what with people making plans to kill one another. It can be difficult because everyone has strange names, but at least it isn't using any of those old words anymore."
In one version, "Beware the ides of March" in Julius Caesar becomes "Beware of March 15."
I keep wondering about students who are incapable of reading Shakespearean language yet are considered "on track to attend college." How can they do college-level work if they can't figure out "lend me your ears" isn't about organ transplants? Maybe they'll just "attend" college but not actually pass any courses.
I remember the joy I experienced when I realized that Shakespeare's "hautboys" were oboes and that the word comes from haut bois or high wood. That was so cool.
no subject
Date: 2004-03-15 06:44 pm (UTC)Boi, if you be saying crazy shit when yo' pissed, best be sure to represent when you ain't. Then you know to shut the fuck up.
[Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.]
no subject
Date: 2004-03-15 07:32 pm (UTC)I'm sending you the bill for cleaning the smirnoff out of my keyboard and off my monitor and my shirt.. ;)
no subject
Date: 2004-03-15 08:06 pm (UTC)I'll be sending mine as well.
All jokes aside, the fact that this all becoming acceptable turns me off of becoming a teacher big time. I don't think I could stand it if I was made to teach kids stupid-friendly "literature."
no subject
Date: 2004-03-15 08:27 pm (UTC)I thought about teaching. I had this cozy little dream that consisted of me teaching first grade in a rural school somewhere in Connecticut or something.
Then I woke myself the hell up.
It's sad, but kids are becoming more outspoken and disrespectful by the day. They no longer have active imaginations nor will they simply accept answers which are qualified fact.
As much as I'd like to, I won't subject myself to that. But you shall persevere! You have more faith then I do.
no subject
Date: 2004-03-16 09:04 am (UTC)What do you mean the bottle?
I mean to put the whole six pack. Horrible mistake, I'll fix it immediately.Kids are horrible these days, there are some I just want to smack until they're dizzy. Then I want to go home and beat their parents to a pulp.
*peers at faith* I'm not so sure I have much left, but thanks for the vote!