Reflection 2

                Reading classic pieces of literature is an integral part of any educational structure. It doesn’t just teach kids new words, or how to read “better”; it introduces them to various styles of writing and gives them insight into the mind of the author.  It’s not something that can be removed from the curriculum, but forcing kids to read against their will can be detrimental as well. There’s a correct way to teach kids using reading, a way that won’t plant the seeds of Readicide in reluctant kids.

                When you give children more freedom with their reading options, they’ll feel more comfortable actually reading. This doesn’t mean give them the option of reading Twilight instead of Of Mice and Men, they won’t learn anything then. The point of reading in school is for kids to learn, giving them too much freedom with their novel choices will result in a generation of idiots completely unfamiliar with anything from a decade ago. Giving them the option of reading between several specific novels of varying genres can be done correctly if each choice will expose them to styles that are somehow similar, instead of two wildly different books that will teach them nothing.  They’ll enjoy reading the book that they picked out, and they’ll be learning the same information more enthusiastically than if they were forced to read a book and given no alternatives that they would better enjoy.