Should high school students lower or higher their reading standards for the sake of all other high school students?

Michael D. Morrow

February 5, 2013

AP English

3^rd period

            Should high school students lower or higher their reading standards for the sake of all other high school students? Should one high school that is well advanced in literary arts be subjected to lower their standards in the literary arts because twenty other schools’ literary standards are low? High schools should not give a specific text to read. Therefore, high schools should not distribute specific texts to their students.

            To begin with, if you gave a low literary rated school, advanced literature from Edgar Allen Poe, Homer, or Shakespeare, the scores would most surely drop. According to the National Council of Teachers of English publication, 84% of, non- tuition-charging, public schools read, the simpler, Romeo and Juliet. Whereas, 74% of, tuition-charging, independent schools read, the more challenging Macbeth. The independent schools read the Odyssey, compared to the public schools that read Of Mice and Men. This publication shows a strong significance between non-tuition- charging and tuition-charging schools; thus, implying that schools that are paid for read a higher choice compared to the free charging schools.

            Furthermore, the choice of the reading should be up to the teacher. Instructors should be able to “have their own decisions.” Teachers should already have a mind set on which books the students should read; without schools having to set a specific text to read. Teachers would have required a good “[…] use of multicultural literature.” Schools should not have to step in take charge which texts are read.

In conclusion, high schools should not distribute specific texts to their students. It would interrupt the style of teaching. Teachers should already have a mind set on which books the students should read; without schools having to set a specific text to read. Does one high school really need to have to same readings as another?