Is School to Blame?

There's been a lot in the news lately about the teaching profession. Some feel that teachers are overpaid for their "part-time jobs" and that the perks teachers receive should be eliminated because workers in the private sector don't receive the same health, dental, and vision coverage. For those of you considering a career in education, this will be a topic of discussion in your classes in college next year.

You don't hear a lot about schools being blamed for not preparing students for the college; usually the blame is doled out on teachers. Click on the title of this post for an article about a mom in Manhattan suing the school her daughter attends because it's not doing an adequate job of preparing her for college.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. No, it's not related to King Lear or A Thousand Acres, but it's still discussion worthy. And while there is NEVER enough time in our daily class for discussion, it's always nice to get a little blog-chatter going.

Happy reading!

-MCC

Would the Bard Have Survived the Web?

There is an interesting op-ed piece in The New York Times today about whether or not Shakespeare would be as popular in a world where internet piracy, eBooks, and file sharing are as common place as status updates.

As we start our journey with King Lear in the next unit, I'd like to hear your thoughts on Shakespeare. Does he deserve the popularity he has earned as an influential poet and dramatist? Do you think another Shakespeare is possible in a world where writing and internet communication have become accessible to everyone and not just the "learned"? Are there any contemporary authors (think 20th and 21st century) that could earn a place alongside Shakespeare and other well-known writers of literary history? A little 'food for thought' as we set sail for the kingdom of Lear.

I'd like to see a response from each of you before next Thursday, February 24. We'll be launching into Lear then and I'd like to get a feel for your views on Shakespeare and his influence.

Letting Students Choose Their Own Books?

The Canadian Newspaper The Globe and Mail features a story about how letting students choose the books they want to read makes them better readers. Your thoughts?