In class, part of our discussion mentioned why reading old/classic books are still relevant in the high school curriculum. Some argued that the reason for reading stories from the likes of Shakespeare and Jane Austin maybe be due to the fact that they evoke a sense of empathy towards what was important during that time. Others, including myself, would argue that focusing on other factors, such as SAT practice and maintaining a decent GPA, is more productive in high school.
I can understand the argument of those who believe in honoring the works of well-known authors. There’s a connection between all of our disciplines, more than we realize, that can help us navigate knowledgable growth in our lifetimes. If you read something in an English class, whose to say that there isn’t a relationship to a Stem major’s objective. Being aware of other’s work not only helps us understand the thought processes of different disciplines, it can help us grow as an individual and a society by being able to comprehend things outside of our designated field.
Personally, I believe that young adults/students don’t really comprehend or care to understand the purpose of classic stories is due to the societal pressures established by institutions that require a certain grade to determine our futures. Hearing others viewpoints on the importance of a liberal education made me rethink the decisions I made in high school. I focused on staying on the high honor roll, instead of challenging myself in an AP Chemistry course to broaden my disciplines. Maybe if I did care more about the free will of thinking, I’d be aiming for a different profession now that doesn’t require a certain test score (LSAT) to determine my future. Academic institutions may allow students to dabble in different schools of interest, but the sad reality is a diploma determines who will be successful in the real world.