J.R.R. Tolkien Thanks, all, for your insights...
New J.R.R. Tolkien Forum at jollyrogerwest.com.

The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien, for your insights..., all, Great Books and J.R.R. Tolkien paper tips. Study hard and write your own term papers and research papers! [Open Source CMS Renaissance][Postnuke Hosting][Gallery Hosting][Blog Hosting] DR. ELLIOT'S NORTH AMERICAN GREAT BOOKS TOUR--COMING TO A BOOK STORE NEAR YOU
[GREAT BOOKS: DISCUSS THE TRAGEDY OF DRAKERAFT.COM][Great Books Lovers Match]
[Physics Forums][Poetry][Shakespeare's Plays][Great Books][Open Source Business]
[Great Books Games][Federalist Papers][Poetry Contest][Classic eCards][Great Books Forums]

Ahoy mate! Welcome to the new J.R.R. Tolkien campfire forum!
Here's the old J.R.R. Tolkien campfire.
THE GREAT BOOKS FORUMS & LIVE CHAT
Click on "New Topic" below to start a new topic.
Tell a friend about this page.
New J.R.R. Tolkien Forum at jollyrogerwest.com. New Philosophy Forums
New Bible Forums

Previous Message | Next Message

Thanks, all, for your insights...

Author: L. Swilley (---.houston.res.rr.com) Date: 04-12-05 10:34 ...This all began for me when I observed my niece yawning through a reading of "The Hobbit" for her English class (7th grade). Reading it, I had to join her in her reaction. There appears to be no analysis of any kind in her course; it consists solely of daily, individual out-loud readings - which may be beneficial at this level for students in schools where the students are lacking in reading ability; but this is not so in her group. Beyond this, I am at sea to know why this work was selected, there being so many better-made works available. Isn't the purpose of scholarly investigations into literature to expose our students to the best? (Where is Matthew Arnold when we so desperately need him!). There is ample evidence that too many teachers of literature do not recognize this duty; they evidently begin with a conviction that the students are immature, less intelligent (not merely less knowledgeable) than they are, that the material for study must be chosen out of consideration for a supposed lack of intelligence of their students or - worse - what might be "relevant"to them, whereas neither of these convictions is warranted. In teaching the rational appreciation of art; the teacher's duties are a) to treat his students as his colleagues, b) to introduce them to the best that he knows and loves. There are those who say, "it's just a story," as though stories of any caliber should properly take up precious literature-class time. (There is some excuse for "any story" if the task is learning to read - although, even there, there is no reason to avoid the classics.) Literature classes - those few precious hours - should be given to the examination of the *art* of the work: exactly what it says, and precisely how beautifully it says it. Those few hours should be given to works that the teacher knows, respects and loves as great literature. And let me rave on a bit more: our determined national ignorance of all the arts as worthy our serious consideration, our treating arts as mere insignificant entertainments, denudes them of their proper effect, ever-deepening considerations of our human nature in its personal, social and political dimensions. Unlike the Europeans, we Americans cannot imagine ourselves as theater audiences reacting with yells at plays we see as destructive of social and poltiical order. That difference is telling: we do not believe art to be an important dimension of our lives. L. Swilley

Reply To This Message

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics Author Date

The Hobbit - Help!!!  new

L. Swilley 04-07-05 19:05

Re: The Hobbit - Help!!!  new

help 04-09-05 16:29

Re: The Hobbit - Help!!!  new

anonymous 10-18-05 10:16

more responses and info  new

help 04-09-05 21:24

Thanks for your responses  new

L. Swilley 04-10-05 10:21

Further replies  new

help 04-10-05 15:48

Can't a story just be a story? - more replies  new

help 04-10-05 11:30

validating your pov - more replies  new

help 04-11-05 15:06

Thanks, all, for your insights...  new

L. Swilley 04-12-05 10:34

Re: Thanks, all, for your insights...  new

ananda 04-12-05 12:31

For ananda  new

L. Swilley 04-13-05 11:31

And more...  new

ananda 04-13-05 09:42

[Poetry] [Great Books & Classics] [Shakespeare] [Classics] [Classic eCards] [American History] [Great Books]
[Tutors] [Great Books Forums] [Greatest Conversation] [Cairn Studios]

Join us before the mast for Moby Dick year.

READ THE GREAT BOOKS
TERM PAPERS, RESEARCH PAPERS, ESSAYS

BUY THE GREAT BOOKS

Free postnuke hosting, blogging, and online photo albums @ mobynuke.net
WRITERSWORD.COM JOLLYROGER.COM US ARMED FORCES PENPALS
THE THREE BOOKS OF THE RENAISSANCE
SUMMER GREAT BOOKS CHALLENGE

Open Source: Free Photo Gallery Hosting for Stock Photography
Open Source Digital Rights Management for Artists, Authors, Bands
Free Open Source Blogging & Blog Hosting
Great Books Discussion Forum
Open Source Business

DR. ELLIOT'S NORTH AMERICAN GREAT BOOKS TOUR--COMING TO A BOOK STORE NEAR YOU
[Shakespeare Forums] [Bible Forums]

Feedback? Would you like to moderate a forum? Contact m o b y d i c k m o v i e @ y a h o o . c o m.

Join The Great Books Renaissance! myspace.com/americanrenaissance

THE. BEST. GREAT. BOOKS. T-SHIRTS. EVER.

Here're the old campfires: [Old J.R.R. Tolkien Forum][Real old J.R.R. Tolkien Forum]
J.R.R. Tolkien Live Chat
J.R.R. Tolkien Cliffs Notes
all Books
for your insights... Books
J.R.R. Tolkien Books
The Hobbit Books
Lord of the Rings Books
The Hobbit Books