Ch 1 of Classics in the Classroom

I did enjoy reading the first Chapter of Carol Jago's Classics in the Classroom. The first chapter talked about the seven guiding principles for literature teachers. The first principle was that Students Must Read. Before I read on to the next principle, I had to agree with the principle of Students Must Read, because reading helps students with vocabulary, writing, critical thinking, and even just the study of language itself. I do believe it is important to encourage students to read, whether it be a sports magazine or a trashy teenage novel to classics like Pride and Prejudice or The Great Gatsby.

However, Jago presented me with a new idea in her second principle, Don't Confuse Reading for Pleasure with the Study of Literature. Jago claims that "classical literature possesses qualities that popular fiction does not" (Jago 5). The more I thought about it. I had to agree with Jago, classic literature allows a student to explore different dimensions of character, plot, theme etc., while some non-classical literature does not.

I did take into consideration Jago's theory that there are two different kind of books students shoudl be reading. "One kind of acts as a mirror - reflecting students' own experiences with peers, parents, sex, drugs, and school..... Students also need books that act as windows. These stories offer readers access to other worlds, other times, other cultures" (5). This perspective gave me a better idea of what to look for in novels when I chose them for a classroom text. Books need to reflect the student experience because they need books they can relate to. Students also need books that will expand their horizons.