*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.
...
Date: 2004-03-16 02:56 am (UTC)LORD. Okay I read Hamlet. I LOVE Hamlet. I didn't understand a lot of what was going on, but my book had (1) footnotes (2) I had a great teacher and (3) I used the Cliff's Notes as they are SUPPOSED TO BE USED to read along with Hamlet. Like, I would read and then read the corresponding Cliff's Notes and be like, "ohhh..." WHAT IS SO DIFFICULT???
That makes me want to vomit. "Beware March 15th"--what the fuck is that about? The point of the archaic language is to keep the integrity of the work and it's pretty interesting, I THINK. Whoever decided that it was a good idea to translate Shakespeare into "contemporary English" needs to be dragged out into the street and shot for being responsible for the DUMBING of America.
Re: ...
Date: 2004-03-16 08:56 am (UTC)Ah, Allie. You always say it best. Never much more to add when you'r finished.
The "Beware March 15th" really bothered me b/c Julius Caesar is my favorite play (Hamlet a realy really really close second).
If you'll help me drag them into the street, I'll bring the weapons.