That’s nice. So you would have first-grade kids read engineering documents, on the offhand chance that one day they might grow up to be engineers?
That's a... special way of interpreting that. Although it goes against every notion of reason and common sense that I am accustomed to, let me give your reasoning a try, as well. Clearly you would ban all non-fiction from schools, on the offhand chance that, one day, they might not grow up to be engineers.
Now, can we put aside the red herrings, or will you insist on an intellectual race to the bottom?
Assuming, of course, that being taught to read from things that they cannot possibly understand doesn’t make them grow up to be illiterate.
Ahh, because ALL non-fiction must be unreadable. That makes perfect sense.
No, the author would have you believe that literature is the key to learning how to be literate. Once you are literate, then you know how to read other things that will allow you to become well-informed. It won’t work the other way round.
From the text: Fiction authors try to describe phenomena in a way they haven’t been described before. They use figurative expression to convey abstract ideas. These are writers who create art and expression in a way that tackles difficult philosophical questions in a palpable format; in a way that gets to the root of all things. This is the kind of reflection that trains citizens capable of self-government.
I must resist the temptation to go into full-blown snark...
no subject
Date: 2013-01-04 07:23 pm (UTC)That's a... special way of interpreting that. Although it goes against every notion of reason and common sense that I am accustomed to, let me give your reasoning a try, as well. Clearly you would ban all non-fiction from schools, on the offhand chance that, one day, they might not grow up to be engineers.
Now, can we put aside the red herrings, or will you insist on an intellectual race to the bottom?
Assuming, of course, that being taught to read from things that they cannot possibly understand doesn’t make them grow up to be illiterate.
Ahh, because ALL non-fiction must be unreadable. That makes perfect sense.
No, the author would have you believe that literature is the key to learning how to be literate. Once you are literate, then you know how to read other things that will allow you to become well-informed. It won’t work the other way round.
I must resist the temptation to go into full-blown snark...