Today I learned that Mark Twain's writing is too complex for modern students.

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FerrelGeek

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Jan 22, 2009
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That's because reading in schools these days is garbage. When I was in school, we read classics. Can't do that anymore, especially if it's stuff written by dead white guys. And yes, that's the case. My two younger kids brought home what they were reading and by-and-large, it was pure dreck. My kids thought so too.
 
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Thebobo

Thebobo

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Jun 19, 2006
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FerrelGeek said:
That's because reading in schools these days is garbage. When I was in school, we read classics. Can't do that anymore, especially if it's stuff written by dead white guys. And yes, that's the case. My two younger kids brought home what they were reading and by-and-large, it was pure dreck. My kids thought so too.
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Example of dreck pwz.
 
IronWing

IronWing

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Jul 20, 2001
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FerrelGeek said:
That's because reading in schools these days is garbage. When I was in school, we read classics. Can't do that anymore, especially if it's stuff written by dead white guys. And yes, that's the case. My two younger kids brought home what they were reading and by-and-large, it was pure dreck. My kids thought so too.
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We always had to read dreck in addition to the good stuff. The middle school reading list was filled with "young adult" fare including stories about drug addicts, bipolar teenagers, angst ridden rich kids, dysfunctional families, and other rubbish. Somehow reading about the other people's horrible lives was supposed to make us better people. It left me wanting to punch Paul Zindel and John Knowles in the face.
 
WelshBloke

WelshBloke

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Jan 12, 2005
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nakedfrog said:
Click the link in the first post and tell me it's completely unjustified in this case.
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Got to be honest here and say I find both of those to be easily readable. The modern "translation" is really bland and it takes away a large part of the experience of reading the text.
 
nakedfrog

nakedfrog

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Apr 3, 2001
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WelshBloke said:
Got to be honest here and say I find both of those to be easily readable. The modern "translation" is really bland and it takes away a large part of the experience of reading the text.
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It's not meant to replace it, only supplement the more esoteric bits, yeah?
 
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FerrelGeek

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Jan 22, 2009
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That's because reading in schools these days is garbage. When I was in school, we read classics. Can't do that anymore, especially if it's stuff written by dead white guys. And yes, that's the case. My two younger kids brought home what they were reading and by-and-large, it was pure dreck. My kids thought so too.

Thebobo said:
Example of dreck pwz.
Click to expand...

OK, I'll start by echoing what Ironwing stated following your post.

We always had to read dreck in addition to the good stuff. The middle school reading list was filled with "young adult" fare including stories about drug addicts, bipolar teenagers, angst ridden rich kids, dysfunctional families, and other rubbish. Somehow reading about the other people's horrible lives was supposed to make us better people. It left me wanting to punch Paul Zindel and John Knowles in the face.
Click to expand...

In addition to what I just quoted, my younger daughter and son both complained that all they were reading was simple articles; nothing challenging. And it was a disproportionate amount of women / girl themed stuff - their words, not mine. My kids both thought the material was just preaching at them.
 
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DaveSimmons

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Aug 12, 2001
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nakedfrog said:
You're old, approach it from a modern kid's perspective.

As it is now, I already have to explain some older colloquialisms to youngsters...
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I agree. I find Twain easy to read but I've read thousands of other books. For a new reader having a modern translation makes sense since Twain intentionally gave Huck an uneducated and roundabout way of thinking and speaking. The alternative would be for each page to have a quarter-page of footnotes and/or to have a glossary of terms and phrases.
 
nakedfrog

nakedfrog

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Apr 3, 2001
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FerrelGeek said:
That's because reading in schools these days is garbage. When I was in school, we read classics. Can't do that anymore, especially if it's stuff written by dead white guys. And yes, that's the case. My two younger kids brought home what they were reading and by-and-large, it was pure dreck. My kids thought so too.



OK, I'll start by echoing what Ironwing stated following your post.



In addition to what I just quoted, my younger daughter and son both complained that all they were reading was simple articles; nothing challenging. And it was a disproportionate amount of women / girl themed stuff - their words, not mine. My kids both thought the material was just preaching at them.
Click to expand...
In the past year or two in school, my kid read Romeo and Juliet and Animal Farm. To my knowledge, both written by dead white guys.
They did also read some modern young adult fiction.
 
zinfamous

zinfamous

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Jul 12, 2006
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The original stuff is embarrassingly easy to read. Granted, I was reading Shakespeare on my own, for fun, by the 7th grade. Not that I understood all of it all of the time.
 
Sonikku

Sonikku

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As one of the younger posters here, I read Macbeth, Hamlet, R & J, Huckleberry Finn (uncensored, before they replaced the word "nig ger" with "slave"), Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies and Oedipus The King. The latter was a story about a guy who kills his father, bones his mother then gouges his eyes out so I don't get the impression they watered down the teachings.
 
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FerrelGeek

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Jan 22, 2009
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nakedfrog said:
In the past year or two in school, my kid read Romeo and Juliet and Animal Farm. To my knowledge, both written by dead white guys.
They did also read some modern young adult fiction.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear that. Unfortunately, my youngest 2 didn't get that.
 
ctbaars

ctbaars

Golden Member
Nov 4, 2009
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"written by dead white guys" is not relevant and borders on racism. What is important is that we learn about story telling, about people who think differently than us, about literary techniques. And the like. Translations bring understanding and enjoyment. Original language bring understanding and culture. I don't think some of you understand what a gift it is to be able to read and how hard it is for many.
 
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whm1974

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Jul 24, 2016
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ctbaars said:
"written by dead white guys" is not relevant and borders on racism. What is important is that we learn about story telling, about people who think differently than us, about literary techniques. And the like. Translations bring understanding and enjoyment. Original language bring understanding and culture. I don't think some of you understand what a gift it is to be able to read and how hard it is for many.
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No one is saying that kids should only be reading stuff "written by dead white guys", what we are is that this stuff should be included.
 
lxskllr

lxskllr

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Nov 30, 2004
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I can appreciate the original text might be somewhat foreign, but reading a cheat sheet ruins the experience. The dialect is a big part of the experience. Once you get in the groove, it's easy to understand. If I can read Sir Walter Scott, they can read Mark Twain.
 
highland145

highland145

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Oct 12, 2009
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nakedfrog said:
You're old, approach it from a modern kid's perspective.

As it is now, I already have to explain some older colloquialisms to youngsters...
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lol the wife said that there was an article where college profs couldn't use caps on the chalk board. Flakes thought they were being yelled at.


Pretty sure my loan shark business has no bounds.

Pay me or CAPS.
 
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whm1974

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2016
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highland145 said:
lol the wife said that there was an article where college profs couldn't use caps on the chalk board. Flakes thought they were being yelled at.


Pretty sure my loan shark business has no bounds.

Pay me or CAPS.
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If true then that is totally baokers:rolleyes:
 
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