Anyone that writes a blog, I would think loves to write. I know that I truly love to write! It is the way that I process. I truly having fun playing with words…
But, back in grade 11 English, I stopped writing. I was a flute-playing jock who spent most of their time in the gym, with friends or in the band room. In my free time, I loved writing down quotes I came across and writing in my journal. I wrote every single day as a 15 year old.
But, I had a grade 11 English teacher that shoved, pummelled, and used literature to criticize students at every turn. You were never “good enough” and you were called out when you weren’t. We were made to memorize and perform Macbeth out loud. As students, we had to read and reflect on the haunting and odd book, Lord of the Flies.
Can you imagine my heart as I now watch my grade 11 son, 32 years later, reading and experiencing these same two books? Week by week, I am watching his love of literature being sucked out of him and his love of writing being taken from him. Why must students’ focus on having the correct formatting for quotes? Why must students’ write down quotes verbatim from a book? Why must students’ write an essay with a hideous word count that would be more directed towards a student that wanted to study and deepen their understanding of English literature? Why must we use the same books as 1991?
Love a duck folks!
Love writing.
Love speaking.
Love communicating.
Share your words.
Share your story.
Share who you are.
And Google the rest!
Lord, please break the cycle of the use of literature that doesn’t bring insight or inspiration for this generation of students (nor my generation either).
And that’s all from me folks.
Happy almost December and love what you do.
XOXO Joanna
"Be" ENOUGH 
1991, you say? I also read Macbeth in Gr 11, (1979) and as an English teacher for many years, I also taught Lord of the Flies. The thing is, I loved both of these books, both for the depth of insight about human nature and the masterful use of the English language that they represent. Perhaps the fault lies not in the choice of literature, (because I would hate to see classics tossed aside in favour of something more “current”… it is my belief that good literature transcends current culture…) but in the way the material was presented. I had an English teacher who focused on bringing the work to life. This left a lasting impact, and I hope that during my time teaching English, I was able to do the same.
Yes… I know that your impact was HUGE and continues to be vast!!!
I think you are very insightful on this. My son did discover a man who talks about books in such interesting ways that he is now doing better. (Note: This man also strongly disliked Lord of the Flies like my son did!) Lord of the Flies and Macbeth are now done… on to either 1984 or another dystopian classic like that. I am curious to see what my son chooses.
1984! Another classic that I loved! It is dark, though…
I think I am going to read this one to him over the holidays to try and “lighten it up” as I read.