Shakespeare

[Theland]

Isn't it child cruelty to force Shakespeare on kids who have no time for it, struggle with it, fail it, and after leaving school never revisit it.
Why?

[Theland]

Snobbery. Everybody says it is cultural so teach it.

[retrocop]

Henry V. Robert Newton playing Pistol. Brilliant. I am slightly biased about that film (1944). My old man was an extra in the Boars Head scene.

[tonyav]

I liked the musical West Side Story ( based on Romeo and Juliet ), so all's not bad.

[Mamyalynne]

There's no snobbery about Shakespeare, it's about the human condition - I'm not sure you're reading the replies.

Never mind.

[-SharonA-]

Agree with Tonyav. Loved West Side Story!!!
That is modern Shakespeare.

[ichkeria]

Shakespeare is not for everyone of course but the obvious riposte to Theland’s question is: how do you decide who’s fit for it at an early stage and who isn’t? If you applied that logic to all subjects it would be chaos.
I agree about the teachers: we had an awful A level English teacher: sat at the front of class and delivered pompous monologues. And O level teacher with his dreary voice would have been incapable of making anything sound interesting.
On the other hand our A level French lit teacher, who was actually a bit of a rat and rather unpopular, was brilliant: made the books come alive.

[kvalidir]

Ever seen Rosenkrantz and Gildenstern are Dead Theland?

[Theland]

Yeah sure. Listen to the people on zero hour contracts, low pay, or in fact anything. Teachers haven't a clue of the reality for many kids.
The test?
Ask people.

[Theland]

What is relevant to real people? Not the arty farty types?

[Mamyalynne]

You didn't really want any opinions did you?

[gness]

Theland....don't suppose you have the will or balls to look at the Shakespeare currently on 4extra.....
Snobbery?....... As I said before you're no advert for Christianity, Theland...you're coming across these last few days as disturbed and pigheaded.

[kvalidir]

Theland am I, or my partner, not real people because we work in the arts? You can have no idea of someone's life, and his was very, very hard and working class, so please don't be rude just because you don't want people to disagree with you. Shakespeare is not class centric, I know people from utterly deprived backgrounds who love Shakespeare, you're being offensive for not good reason and I'm worried about what is so wrong with your life that you feel the need to lash out pointlessly at everything. Why not tell us all what's really wrong instead and see if we can't help you?

[Theland]

When I was 13 my cousin gave me the works. I lay in bed reading them. Loved them. Took them into school for free reading periods and teachers were surprirised.
Studied Julius Caesar for o level. Loved it. Helped daughter with Hamlet for her exams. Left it behind

[Theland]

Problems with silly old I pad. Short posts or reloaded

[Theland]

Kvadir- I do not doubt your industry but you are an entertainer.
Why put people through this study when 99% never want to know it again?

[Theland]

We need to give kids a chance with science, engineering and IT the skills the country needs and get jobs and a decent wage to make a good life

[Canary42]

Shakespeare was a welcome relief from having the Holy Bible stuffed down our throats.

[Theland]

Wanted:- Apprentice engineer.

Maths, science English and two others.

Oh dear, missed maths by a grade, but good at Shakey.

[tonyav]

Question AuthorWanted:- Apprentice engineer.

Maths, science English and two others.


Hang on !, did you apply for the same job as me as a school leaver, Theland.

[ichkeria]

I think your logic is a bit wonky there Theland.
Someone who’s done well at English might not want to be an ‘apprentice engineer’