Posts by Daniel Gomez10

Karen Richardson3 said:Personally, I have a massive issue with how we approach American English classes—specifically this rigid principle of teaching literary history.
To me, it feels like a total fog, and I honestly can't see a logical reason why it's structured this way, other than the fact that the curriculum is clearly dictated by PhDs specializing in literary history. 😁

Don't get me wrong, studying literary history is definitely valuable. But what about the modern era? How many works by contemporary authors, whether they're American or international, have you actually read or discussed during your English classes?

Isn't it just common sense that books reflecting the world we actually live in right now would be much more relatable and engaging for teenagers?

Why is it that a fifteen-year-old is stuck reading The Iliad, then moves on to The Decameron at sixteen, followed by some Neoclassical drama at seventeen, only to reach senior year at eighteen where they barely even glance at a few mid-20th-century authors because everyone is too busy stressing over SAT prep and graduation?

I've always been a reader—actually, I still am—but most of my required school readings were just an absolute drag.
I would finish them (most of them, anyway), and I could always figure out "what the author was trying to say," which meant I always pulled straight A's in English, but man, those selected books were just brutal.

For kids who don't already love reading, these mandatory lists just reinforce the idea that books are boring things to be avoided at all costs. Meanwhile, the kids who actually enjoy reading know there's a huge, fascinating world of literature outside the school curriculum, so they usually just suck it up and endure it.

Honestly, who better to design an English lit curriculum and pick the reading list than someone with a PhD in literature? It just makes sense. 😁
Let's not start playing the "everything is relative" game. If we go down that road, we'll end up questioning every single subject and why mandatory schooling even exists, which doesn't really get us anywhere.

Of course, studying literary history is important. But what about everything happening right now? I'm curious, how many books by modern authors—either from here or abroad—have you actually read or covered in your American literature classes?

Modern literature feels like such a tiny slice of everything we’ve written throughout history, so it usually ends up being an afterthought at the end of the school year. Plus, trying to focus on that when everyone is already stressed out over SAT prep is just asking for trouble.

I've always loved reading, but honestly, most of my school assignments were just such a drag.
I could probably follow most of them. I always understood exactly what an author was getting at—honestly, I used to pull straight A's in my English classes back in high school. But yeah, the required reading list they gave us? Total garbage.

I used to be such a bookworm. I actually powered through most of my high school reading list, though I'll admit those classic novels weren't exactly my favorite thing ever. To each their own, right? Everyone has different tastes!

People who hate reading always pick the most boring books, which just proves their point. But those of us who actually love it? We know there’s a whole massive world of great stories outside the school curriculum, so we usually just power through the dull stuff.

People who don't like reading aren't going to pick up a book no matter how you spin it. But if someone actually loves it, they'll dive into anything—even those required school readings.

rowdypanther12 said:Oh, I don't think it's quite that simple. It isn't strictly the fault of teachers or parents, though there is certainly a group of people who grew to hate books because of school assignments—even if they usually end up finding a book they love later on.
I've always been a total bookworm. I'd say I owe it to my mom, who read to me constantly growing up. But my sister hasn't read three books in her entire life, despite my mom trying just as hard with her. She just wasn't interested. My partner is the same way; he just doesn't care for books or reading.
Since I think he's a smart guy 😍 and, as a lifelong lover of the written word, I struggle to understand how someone can dislike books, I tried to "convert" him. It didn't work. 😁
To him, books are just ink on paper. He reads the words, but he doesn't truly see them.
Even when a story is interesting, it's just letters on a page rather than a magical new world waiting behind the cover.
That isn't something you can force; maybe you can spark it in childhood, but not if you're just handing out random books instead of ones tailored to the person. 😁
I suppose it's just one of those things you either have or you don't.

I'm right there with you. Some people just aren't readers (and as someone who always has a book in my bag, I find that hard to wrap my head around 🙂), and you can't force that passion to happen.
I don't even think the point of required school reading is to make kids fall in love with books. It’s part of the English curriculum, and its main job is to give them a foundation in literature. It’s kind of like how in music class, students listen to specific classical pieces; in lit class, they read certain classics because of their historical importance.
Plus, there's everything else we've touched on before—mastering language, improving writing skills, learning how to think critically, analyzing themes, and building up that imagination...

brisktiger56 said:to me, it feels like kids would actually dive into books to find answers to everything under the sun IF there wasn't this sense of forced compliance—assuming, of course, that the books actually contain interesting insights that can blow their minds or help them grow...

Obligations and homework make sense on paper, but let's be real—who actually enjoys them??
What percentage of kids actually tackle a task, or a required reading list, with genuine enthusiasm?
Where's the disconnect? Is it the pressure?

Honestly, nobody loves obligations, whether you're a kid or an adult. But us adults get things done because we're responsible; we know it has to happen and we know nobody else is going to step in and do it for us.
There are things we love doing, and then there are things we do simply because they're part of being an adult.
I've seen kids who don't just hate reading assignments—they actually dread going to school entirely. Still, parents aren't going to pull them out of school just because they aren't having a blast.
That's why it's so important to teach kids responsibility by letting them handle their own homework and reading, rather than us stepping in just because they find it tedious.
It's really about teaching them how to be accountable.

brisktiger56 said:Back when I was forced to read these things, I didn't see the point. It was all just boring 😛 and writing those little essays was even worse. I couldn't find any sense in living through someone else's imagination or reliving historical events...

Now, looking back, it seems like stuff worth paying attention to, but I have no clue how anyone could have gotten me interested as a kid. Since I wasn't interested and it was mandatory, everyone else was just reading and writing purely so they wouldn't fail their American literature grade.

So, how do you actually spark that desire in a child to read, explore, or talk about what they've read with others? I suppose if we actually had the answer to that, there wouldn't even be a need for required reading... right?

That's a tough one...
I think it's just like anything else—kids naturally gravitate toward certain things, including reading. You’ve got some kids who absolutely live for a good book, and then you have others who just aren't really into it at all.
Maybe we could try leading that second group by example? I've found that picking out some shorter, punchier books that actually grab their attention helps get them hooked. Then again, I know from experience there are just some kids who won't be swayed by anything, no matter how you approach it.
Look, reading the assigned books is mandatory, plain and simple. It’s just like finishing a math worksheet—it's part of the job when you're in school. There's really no point in doing the homework or the reading for them, though. It's their responsibility to get it done, whether they're feeling it or not.

brisktiger56 said:
moved from the thread "Do you help your kids with homework and reading assignments—and why?"
tihonsee

Alright, let's just step back for a second—what is the actual point of assigned reading anyway?
What's the grand design behind it all?

It's about learning how to read and truly understand things—developing critical thinking, analysis, and synthesis skills. It helps with mastering our own language and others, too. But honestly, the best part is letting your imagination run wild and getting lost in different eras and worlds.
Plus, you pick up bits of human history along the way, depending on the book.

If you're wondering why certain titles are picked as "required" instead of just letting kids choose whatever they want, it's because those books are considered landmarks in literary history. That alone makes them worth studying in an English class.
Another huge reason is that, let's be real, most kids probably wouldn't pick up a book at all if it wasn't assigned. 😬
Sadly, even with assignments, a lot of kids still skip the actual reading and just hunt down summaries online.

edit: To answer the main question here, I don't do my kids' homework or required reading for them. I want them to learn how to be independent and responsible. I'll help if they ask, but I won't do the work for them. And that goes for more than just books.