My wonderful sister Liz posted on her blog about The Great Gatsby in response to another blogger's debate on what should be the 25 books read by age 25 of the truly literate person. She stated that the point is not just having read the greatest of what literature has to offer; it is the understanding of what the author wants his audience to see. Liz is correct; if you thought Arthur Miller's play The Crucible was a nice drama about the Salem Witch Trials - please Google Senator Joseph McCarthy.
There is a greater issue to consider. I graduated college with a degree in elementary/middle school education. Currently, I work at one of those Learning Centers whose primary purpose is to catch children up to where they should be in school. Every child that wants to enroll in the Center takes diagnostic exams so that we know what the current strengths and growth areas of the child are and at what level (i.e. reading level, math level) the child needs to begin. During those diagnostic exams, which I have administered, the students are asked questions about their family, school, themselves, etc. They are also asked this important question "Do you like to read?" The answer is usually a resounding "NO."
My sisters and I were very fortunate to raised by book worms who taught us the joys of escaping into a book. Thus, we brought with us to school good vocabularies, and a knowledge of main idea, supporting details and plot development. Many children today are being raised by parents who don't read for pleasure or for any other purpose. Children spent hours playing video games and computer games (and no, I am not against video games. Boosting hand-eye coordination is important, too). Asking them to open a book is foreign and met with a disgusted stare. It does not take a leap in logic to comprehend the reason why children struggle with reading and language arts at school.
Can you imagine what the future of society is going to be like in the United States? We look forward to a country filled with adults who can barely read at a sixth grade reading level and, as a result, are unable to communicate effectively at any higher level. The crucial question is not what are the 25 classics that the truly literate should read by age 25; it is: Can you name 25 books you have read outside of school by age 25? Literacy, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, and speech won't improve if we don't start by opening a book.
On a lighter note, I want to say thank you to Liz for ordering us copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Also, kudos to Vox Day for including a P.G. Wodehouse novel on your list of 25 books.
