The Philistines Are Not Just At The Gates ...

[sunny-dave]

... they are running education.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-27563466


So out go two of the greatest books ever written - 'To Kill a Mocking Bird' and 'Of Mice and Men' - and in come Russell Brand and Dizzee Rascal.


Jesus wept.

[jeffa]

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/25/michael-gove-about-droppi_n_5388489.html

I couldn't have put it better myself!

[Baldric]

April 1st again already?

[jeffa]

It can only be hoped that he will lose his seat next year and his replacement at Education knows something about English literature.

[sherrardk]

I can't find a link to it, but in the Sunday Times is said that it is 'rumored' that Gove designed the new curriculum himself. I can't find any reference to his ever being a teacher or working in education. He has alienated so many people with his no term time holidays thing (but if you do go, you will get fined - seems like a money spinner to me).

[factor-fiction]

Gove's Oxford University degree was in English though, jeffa so he should know something about literature.
I think OMAM is a great book.
It'll be interesting to see what Gove says. Maybe the exam boards are being deliberately provocative.
I'd rather keep these books and put less emphasis on Shakespeare.
The books are still available though, so youngsters are free to read them- hopefully teachers and parents will still encourage them to do so.

[jim360]

Who ever did their formative reading in a GCSE classroom though?

[black_cat51]

except they are really expensive! I tried to buy OMAM a few weeks ago and couldn't find it for under £8 I would never spend £8 on a book.
I know, libraries yadda yadda yadda
when i was at school OMAM wasn't a set text, an i turned out ok (i think)

[Baldric]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Gove#Early_life_and_career_outside_Parliament

[sunny-dave]

Me for one Jim - AO English Lit turned me from a science geek who read 'The Eagle' into someone with an enduring love of books.

[jim360]

Ah. Well so much for that argument, then. Not that I'd ever want to support Govey but on a personal level most of the learning I did in my High School years happened when I was at home.

[sherrardk]

Jim, for some kids the books they read at GCSE are the only books they have ever read. If they get turned off reading then, they may never get switched back on.

[black_cat51]

but not many boys are avid readers dave. If reading classic books puts them off, perhaps it is time to put more modern books on the curriculum?

[EcclesCake]

As much as I agree that Of Mice and Men and To Kill a Mockingbird are excellent books I would like to think that there is something written in the last 30-40 years that may be more appealing for the youth of today to engage with.

[jeffa]

"Gove's Oxford University degree was in English though, jeffa so he should know something about literature."

You'd think, wouldn't you?

"I think OMAM is a great book."
So do I.

[sunny-dave]

I agree up to a point, black_cat - but in a two year course there is surely time for a mixture of old/new and easy/difficult?

[Jeza]

To kill a mocking bird is one of the best books I have ever read. When Harper Lee was asked why she didn't write more books she said " I have said all I wanted to say"
Of mice and men, another goody as is the grapes of wrath.

[sunny-dave]

Eccles - I do worry about everything being predicated on 'appealing to the youth of today'.

There surely needs to be a balance between that and some attempt to introduce them to stuff that requires a bit of grit.

[humbersloop]

just beggars belief, it really does

[naomi24]

It breaks my heart. :o(

[ChillDoubt]

Young ChillDoubt has recently finished Of Mice and Men during his syllabus.
Whilst he enjoyed it, it was perplexing for him in that the 'n' word was prevalent throughout, whilst often hearing of one furore or another in the daily media over use of the word.
Whislt I agree that they are classics and they obviously endure, it may be time to move away from the conventional mainstay's and study something like The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night Time or The Ghost Road.
When I was in school (all those years ago) it was My Family and Other Animals, The Merchant of Venice and The Importance of Being Earnest.
How times have changed.