Compulsory reading in schools: encouraging classical culture or discouraging teenagers?

To be or not to be? If you had to read Hamlet while in school, you know precisely what this extract is about. Or don’t, because you didn’t read that book since you weren’t feeling like your friend from the other class had the answers for the literature exam. 

Although it is complex, discussing whether compulsory reading in school encourages or not classical culture is important because every coin has two sides. 

In formatting years, it is up to the school to make the child fall in love with literature. Some people say that it is the family’s responsibility, but it is not, since some families are not used to reading. Leading to schools, which became the place where kids can learn how and what to read. That said, schools generally recommend books for the person’s age- so they can read as they grow and this can become a lifestyle for them. 

This may be polemic, but reading the classics is important, even though you don’t like them, because from them you can abstract the writer’s thoughts and analyze them by comparing them to nowadays and see how the world has changed, or not (if you read 1984, you know what I am talking about). You can use those books to discuss certain things with people you normally wouldn’t have something to talk about or use this knowledge in a job interview (jokes aside, it wouldn’t look bad if you show your future boss that you are erudite). 

On the other hand, if you read a good book at school, I am pretty sure that you read 5 other terrible books, which is a huge problem. Most schools make us read bad and poorly written books. Maybe it is for the best, since by reading an abhorrent piece of literature, the student can establish their critical sense and know their likes and dislikes, but it can also make them believe that reading is lame and boring.

Reading is essential. Reading is one of the greatest pleasures on earth. I can’t describe what I feel when reading. And I believe everyone should experience this feeling and school is the bridge between kids and books. Thus, they must encourage them to read by showing them how cool the literary world is, not by making them write a 2400 characters essay about Shakespeare.

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The article above was edited by Clarissa Palácio.

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