Tell me why - English lit related

[creekland]

Ok, so tonight I'm ordering my ps 10th grader's Level 3 (Highest Level) English summer reading books.

 

Spud is one of them.

 

Can anyone tell me why this would be a selection for 10th grade - Highest Level - College Prep?

 

Granted, the review makes it sound like a "fun" book, but it pretty much looks like a middle school book, not 10th grade. What am I missing? (Honest question as I'm a math/science person.)

 

The other books are:

 

Thirteen Reasons Why (I'm honestly not certain my ex-suicidal son ought to be reading this one, but...it's not like I have a choice.)

 

1984 (Wow, a classic!)

 

Night (Glad to see this one too.)

 

Spud is the main one I have issues with - not due to any inappropriate content, but rather, due to the level the book appears aimed at. Honors level English - 10th grade?

[Julie in MN]

When my oldest was in our local (not so good) ps, he asked what the difference was between honors & regular English. They basically said it would be the same books, just more questions about them. There were 2-3 books per year, mostly along the lines of Tuesdays With Morrie. So the honors would apparently just have lots of questions on that.

 

If you wanted real literature, you'd have to take a more specific class than "English," such as "British Literature," and I think you had to take it as an elective, but not totally sure I'm remembering that correctly.

 

Not sure if that's how it works over there, but it's possible.

Julie

[creekland]

When my oldest was in our local (not so good) ps, he asked what the difference was between honors & regular English. They basically said it would be the same books, just more questions about them. There were 2-3 books per year, mostly along the lines of Tuesdays With Morrie. So the honors would apparently just have lots of questions on that.

 

If you wanted real literature, you'd have to take a more specific class than "English," such as "British Literature," and I think you had to take it as an elective, but not totally sure I'm remembering that correctly.

 

Not sure if that's how it works over there, but it's possible.

Julie

 

We don't have any such electives for kids to take. English is just Level 1 (8th grade or less content - works on the basics of grammar and writing), Level 2 ("normal" kids - community college or lower level local college prep with no summer reading), or Level 3 ("Honors" English for the college bound - 4 summer reading books). That's it for English. Senior year they can opt for "College in the High School" which brings a lower level LAC English class into the high school for college bound kids. My guy is just going into 10th grade so he can only choose a level.

 

I'm just not seeing how that book is helping them prepare for college. I'll have to read it when it comes in. I certainly don't claim to know it all about English or college prep for it, but this seems to me like just a middle school level "fun" read in the same way that potty humor is supposed to be "fun" at the movies for adolescent boys. The only good thing about it is I was able to buy it for a penny + shipping and had many options.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Spud-John-van-Ruit/dp/1595141871/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307440119&sr=1-1

 

Here's one of the comments off Amazon's site:

 

Thirteen-year old protagonist John "Spud" Milton receives a scholarship to boarding school in 1990 and with apprehension welcomes the opportunity to escape from his increasingly wacky and warring parents. They think they're sending him to a world of structure and discipline. What he finds is a world not much less bizarre than Hogwarts, where he bonds with housemates "Rambo", "Boggo", "Fatty", "Gecko" and others into the "Crazy Eight". As with most 13-year old boys, their thinking is preoccupied by sex and in this case farting, a talent with which "Fatty" challenges the school record. Spud, so nicknamed for the slow pace of his pubescent development, develops in many other ways, as he struggles to survive in a world of crazy classmates, sadistic upperclassmen, drunken teachers, from whom his only escape is the occasional weekend visit to the maniacal world of his parents and grandmother, Wombat.

 

An American reader will enjoy both van de Ruit's sense of humor and his inside look at South African in a time of great change, as Nelson Mandela is freed and apartheid ends. Along the way Spud reads some modern classics, "Catcher in the Rye" (his resemblance to Holden Caulfield isn't lost on either him or us) and "Catch-22" and discusses them with his English prof (and cricket coach).

 

Part "Catcher" and "Catch", part A Confederacy of Dunces (Evergreen Book)(and part "Diary of Anne Frank", as the book is written in as Spud's diary entries), and all wicked South African fun, "Spud" is highly recommended to both adult and teenage readers (though for some reason, Amazon has it categorized for 9-to-12-year olds).

[choirfarm]

Short answer: It doesn't.

 

I taught 10th grade English and most of those would not be on my list. That said, getting children to read ANYTHING outside of class was a chore and that was 17 years ago now. Seriously, if I didn't read it in class, they didn't know anything in the regular classes. In the honors class it was about 75 percent. I'm guessing that it has gotten worse. My boys listened to a friend in an honors class complain about having to read 40 pages outside of class A WEEK. My boys thought... ugh I read twice that much a day for English and at least that much a week for history, etc.

 

Christine

[creekland]

Short answer: It doesn't.

 

I taught 10th grade English and most of those would not be on my list. That said, getting children to read ANYTHING outside of class was a chore and that was 17 years ago now. Seriously, if I didn't read it in class, they didn't know anything in the regular classes. In the honors class it was about 75 percent. I'm guessing that it has gotten worse. My boys listened to a friend in an honors class complain about having to read 40 pages outside of class A WEEK. My boys thought... ugh I read twice that much a day for English and at least that much a week for history, etc.

 

Christine

 

The idea with our levels is supposed to be that those not wishing to do the extra reading and work opt for Level 2. Level 3 is voluntary and only one or two sections are offered. In the packet sent home it says:

 

"...if you can't adhere to this obligation, find another English course that does not require you to do summer reading and journals."

 

Only Level 3 requires summer reading (and, evidently, journals - which I think are just answers to questions about each book. It's not very clear.)

 

I'm sort of wondering if this is some sort of social issue deal the English teacher is wanting to "provide" education for as opposed to actual English lit. I don't know him very well as I stick with math/science almost 100%. Comments I've heard from other kids about actual English instruction haven't been positive. I haven't had even one student tell me they liked having him or felt they learned much yet (but I also haven't asked tons since school is now out for the summer).

 

I've written my guy's guidance counselor to see if there's another Level 3 10th grade teacher option, and if so, if they have a different summer reading list.

 

My first impression of this teacher is definitely negative at this point, but we just might not have a choice.

 

I really wish my guy would want to come back home. (sigh)

[Julie in MN]

An American reader will enjoy both van de Ruit's sense of humor and his inside look at South African in a time of great change, as Nelson Mandela is freed and apartheid ends. Along the way Spud reads some modern classics, "Catcher in the Rye" (his resemblance to Holden Caulfield isn't lost on either him or us) and "Catch-22" and discusses them with his English prof (and cricket coach).

 

Part "Catcher" and "Catch", part A Confederacy of Dunces (Evergreen Book)(and part "Diary of Anne Frank", as the book is written in as Spud's diary entries),

This is totally my guess, but from my oldest ds's experience, the teachers seem desperate to get kids reading *anything* and so they choose books they think kids will find fun (like Ramona or even SpongeBob books in elementary) or relate to how kids *feel.* And then in high school if the book sneaks in a tidbit about something more educational (South Africa, references to a couple pieces of literature), then the teacher will have a springboard to "enthuse" kids. I saw this a LOT in the public schools and still see it where I tutor. Folks look at a bookcase of literature and suggest we get some books that kids will like.

 

(Sadly, I don't think it works that way, and instead kids would like reading if they were encouraged to really read some decent books. And ironically, many of those goofy books have multiple references to classic works of literature, so their authors must be better-read than their readers!)

 

I'm sort of wondering if this is some sort of social issue deal the English teacher is wanting to "provide" education for as opposed to actual English lit.

I'm not sure all people think "English lit" is necessary. An entire English course can be taught just as a reading and writing course, or reading and grammar, or whatever. Homeschoolers are enthusiastic about literature, but I only had one humanities course in college with classic literature, and I graduated with honors. I read a little in high school (Animal Farm, Perelandra) and in college I read a *ton* of modern stuff, multi-cultural stuff, journals, everything that was about "today" (which ironically isn't today any more :tongue_smilie: ). Some high schools are still teaching classic literature, but if your school doesn't have any literature electives, then I doubt that it's one of them.

 

Julie

[creekland]

This is totally my guess, but from my oldest ds's experience, the teachers seem desperate to get kids reading *anything* and so they choose books they think kids will find fun (like Ramona or even SpongeBob books in elementary) or relate to how kids *feel.* And then in high school if the book sneaks in a tidbit about something more educational (South Africa, references to a couple pieces of literature), then the teacher will have a springboard to "enthuse" kids. I saw this a LOT in the public schools and still see it where I tutor. Folks look at a bookcase of literature and suggest we get some books that kids will like.

 

(Sadly, I don't think it works that way, and instead kids would like reading if they were encouraged to really read some decent books. And ironically, many of those goofy books have multiple references to classic works of literature, so their authors must be better-read than their readers!)

 

 

I'm not sure all people think "English lit" is necessary. An entire English course can be taught just as a reading and writing course, or reading and grammar, or whatever. Homeschoolers are enthusiastic about literature, but I only had one humanities course in college with classic literature, and I graduated with honors. I read a little in high school (Animal Farm, Perelandra) and in college I read a *ton* of modern stuff, multi-cultural stuff, journals, everything that was about "today" (which ironically isn't today any more :tongue_smilie: ). Some high schools are still teaching classic literature, but if your school doesn't have any literature electives, then I doubt that it's one of them.

 

Julie

 

I think you're probably right. I'm still reconciling my really good high school academic experience with this really "average" one. It makes me want to move except hubby has his job here (owns the business) and we love our farm. In my next life I'll pay attention to what schools are doing locally before we buy... (sigh).

 

I went back to that general board thread of mid-May and copied what I remember of my high school required reading list:

 

Grapes of Wrath

Red Badge of Courage

The Oxbow Incident

Romeo & Juliet

King Lear

Hamlet

Macbeth

Richard III

The Taming of the Shrew

1984

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

To Kill a Mockingbird

Lord of the Flies

Oliver Twist

Tale of Two Cities

A Christmas Carol (this was likely earlier than high school)

The Diary of Anne Frank (middle school I think)

Our Town

Beowolf

Call of the Wild

Les Miserables (abridged - in French)

Odyssey

Illiad

Flowers for Algernon - both the book and the short story

The Scarlet Letter

Heart of Darkness

The Portrait of Dorian Gray

Bridge over the River Kwai (sp?)

Count of Monte Cristo (a favorite of mine - I used it on the AP test)

The Old Man and the Sea

The Sun Also Rises

The Good Earth

Tom Sawyer (middle school I think)

On Walden Pond

some Canterbury Tales

Black Like Me

Silas Marner (middle school I think)

The Color Purple

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

All Creatures Great and Small

Light in August (my least favorite!)

 

Plus, poems and short stories, etc.

 

I had my boys read some of those plus some different selections, but Spud wouldn't rank there anywhere for required reading in 10th grade for College Prep at the highest level. If my guys had chosen it on their own at some point, that would have been fine, but I really do find myself wishing we had better options here for school classes.

 

Besides, I've never clicked with the modern entertainment belief that all adults are crazy, unintelligent, or drunk and that kids are the only smart ones out there - or the emphasis on porn, farting and other potty humor. I find it difficult to believe that this teacher couldn't find a more worthy book on South Africa if that was his intent.

 

Thanks for your insight. It is quite helpful.

[Julie in MN]

I think you're probably right. I'm still reconciling my really good high school academic experience with this really "average" one.

 

I had my boys read some of those plus some different selections,

Wow, kudos to your teachers -- you should look them up and send them a thank you! And kudos to you for adding at home. Doing lit as read-alouds is fun, too. Or even audiobooks on car trips.

 

Besides, I've never clicked with the modern entertainment belief that all adults are crazy, unintelligent, or drunk and that kids are the only smart ones out there

:banghead:

[creekland]

I just heard back from the guidance office. This teacher is the only one offering Level 3 English and the book was department approved.

 

Such is life. A google search tells me the book is popular among readers and quite funny. So far there are three books in the series. I didn't see it on any suggested academic reading lists though.

 

I don't know whether to read it and fume about it being a top level 10th grade choice or let it go and "see nothing, hear nothing" and forget about it.

 

In the end, I'll just have to see what they read in class (doubtful it will be much) and then assign him some other books in the spring (when he doesn't have English) to supplement, much in the way we supplement math and science to make up for the inadequacies of our school district. I did the same for 9th grade, but at least the summer reading for 9th was more in tune with his grade (The Giver, Iron Man, Of Mice and Men).

[Melissa B]

This is only the summer reading list though. Perhaps the books read during the year are more challenging and classical in nature? The summer reading list may be intentionally light since the students are on break.

[creekland]

Wow, kudos to your teachers -- you should look them up and send them a thank you! And kudos to you for adding at home. Doing lit as read-alouds is fun, too. Or even audiobooks on car trips.

 

 

 

I've appreciated my teachers so much more as a college student and adult than I ever did as a high school student. ;) Freshman year of college was a breeze for me. So many from our high school drop out - at lower level colleges too.

[creekland]

This is only the summer reading list though. Perhaps the books read during the year are more challenging and classical in nature? The summer reading list may be intentionally light since the students are on break.

 

We'll see. Since two of the three books other books are decent choices (IMO), perhaps he did add this one just for a lighter read.

 

The third book might be a good choice too. I'm just a little worried about it since it deals with suicide and this kiddo was there less than 2 years ago. I'd rather not revisit it, but don't have a choice (a huge part of why he is in ps is to deal with that - certainly not for the academics!).

[Caroline]

Well, I'll hold out hope with you for the upcoming year. At least your school has summer reading. Where I teach, the summer reading is for the entite school, and completely voluntary. This summer we are reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. It is a good book, and will certainly resonate with our students. I am going to incorporate some word problems based on it the first week back in my calc and pre-calc classes. But I wish we had a comprehensive reading program at my school.

 

My son's 11th grade summer reading for history and lit combined includes The Grapes of Wrath, The Jungle, Narrative of The Life of Fredrick Douglass, Killer Angels, and one more that is escaping me at the moment. I think it may be too much for summer. I am trying to remember last summer's reading for him... I think it included The Year 1000, Worlds Religions, Human Web, and Last Kingdom. He also had to read parts of London.

 

I admire the work you put into your local school. Keep it up!

[creekland]

Well, I'll hold out hope with you for the upcoming year. At least your school has summer reading. Where I teach, the summer reading is for the entite school, and completely voluntary. This summer we are reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. It is a good book, and will certainly resonate with our students. I am going to incorporate some word problems based on it the first week back in my calc and pre-calc classes. But I wish we had a comprehensive reading program at my school.

 

My son's 11th grade summer reading for history and lit combined includes The Grapes of Wrath, The Jungle, Narrative of The Life of Fredrick Douglass, Killer Angels, and one more that is escaping me at the moment. I think it may be too much for summer. I am trying to remember last summer's reading for him... I think it included The Year 1000, Worlds Religions, Human Web, and Last Kingdom. He also had to read parts of London.

 

I admire the work you put into your local school. Keep it up!

 

I think it would be fun to have the whole school read a book! However, that would likely never happen at our school. Summer reading is just for those who choose Level 3 English. Our school doesn't read any of those you listed from either school at any grade level. Last year (9th grade) in English class the Level 3's read To Kill a Mockingbird, Romeo & Juliet, and All's Quiet on the Western Front in addition to their summer reading. It's not much, but they are at least decent choices, though we did To Kill a Mockingbird in 8th grade when we homeschooled. (One grade level isn't much of a difference though.) I added Black Like Me and a couple of "fun" park ranger/safari guide true story books to his "required" list (Hey Ranger, Whatever You Do, Don't Run, and Don't Look Behind You - all of which we read as a family - separately - and loved). ;)

[Caroline]

Just a quick note: The way we get the whole school reading the book together is to get the books donated. This year, we had money from a federal grant about improving education in urban schools. In years past, the local power company, students from wealthier schools, or a combination of local businesses donated them. It has worked well. This year, another school is joining us for our summer read get together.

 

I think it would be fun to have the whole school read a book! However, that would likely never happen at our school. Summer reading is just for those who choose Level 3 English. Our school doesn't read any of those you listed from either school at any grade level. Last year (9th grade) in English class the Level 3's read To Kill a Mockingbird, Romeo & Juliet, and All's Quiet on the Western Front in addition to their summer reading. It's not much, but they are at least decent choices, though we did To Kill a Mockingbird in 8th grade when we homeschooled. (One grade level isn't much of a difference though.) I added Black Like Me and a couple of "fun" park ranger/safari guide true story books to his "required" list (Hey Ranger, Whatever You Do, Don't Run, and Don't Look Behind You - all of which we read as a family - separately - and loved). ;)