Why all the cool kids are reading Executive Order 13423

[marycatelli]

An article about the teaching of reading that is enough to make you wonder if we will have an audience ever again.

Comments

[izuko.livejournal.com]

Ok, I'm confused. It seems to me that you're suggesting that, because books like Basic Economics are unlikely to be found in libraries, we shouldn't start stocking them in libraries? Help me out here.

As for being put off from reading, I've got my doubts about that entire notion. It seems like adults making excuses for student laziness or cultural issues. Students are put off because we keep telling them they should be.

[marycatelli]

You are still arguing from the position that the students will be assigned it in class. We all know how likely that is.

[izuko.livejournal.com]

Ah. That's true. I am making the assumption that the law will be followed. If not, then it seems "no harm, no foul."

[marycatelli]

The law requires them to assign works like Basic Economics? I doubt it.

[izuko.livejournal.com]

As per the article, there is no mention of any particular texts being required, only examples of informational texts. I find it rather disingenuous that I am being asked to defend the most extreme forms of that type book. Were I to handle this debate as you are, I would be pretending that your view of the law required that our history books be thrown out in favor of 50 Shades of Gray.

[marycatelli]

Ah, but that's putting trust in the teachers. Which I don't.

[izuko.livejournal.com]

That is also aside from the point being discussed, which was fiction vs. non-fiction.

[marycatelli]

No, because the article was also about what non-fiction was to be read.

[izuko.livejournal.com]

That is not supported by the text of the article.

[marycatelli]

Yes, it is.