What is Digg?346 Comments
- unrealfan, on 04/28/2008, -18/+125"J.K. Rowling's boy-wizard has been added to the syllabus in a move that has prompted fresh claims of "dumbing down" in education standards."
so true, wtf is that book/series doing in school curriculum? - TheG2, on 04/28/2008, -5/+92Yeah...Harry Potter might be a fun read and may have prompted kids everywhere to give "this reading thing" a shot again, but it doesn't deserve a spot in a curriculum.
- timewarp424, on 04/28/2008, -9/+95Typical Muggles... Think they know everything.
- Railz, on 04/28/2008, -10/+78Granted, Harry Potter isn't really A-level school material, but neither are some of these bonified classics that are shoved down our throats.
- davatron5000, on 04/28/2008, -6/+71more like.... "dumbledore-ing down"!! nyuk nyuk! wokka wokka!
- halleyscomet, on 04/28/2008, -3/+40If The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are NOT on that same reading list, then I'd say it's time for an educational smackdown.
- Harabeck, on 04/28/2008, -19/+55Say what you will, she has a very distinct style and has had a huge impact on our culture. And what do you think defines the "classic" authors you've read in class?
- doshindude, on 04/28/2008, -33/+66Harry Potter has got to be the most overrated book series ever, and doesn't belong in an english curriculum, let alone an A-level one.
- mtwoar, on 04/28/2008, -2/+30Intelligus Reductus! *waves wand*
/sorry - peterjmag, on 04/28/2008, -4/+32Dumbing it down, of course.
- W1LS0N, on 04/28/2008, -0/+24this is one of those headlines that you know the source before you read the article.
- inactive, on 04/28/2008, -2/+24Do you even know about modern novels?
- inactive, on 04/28/2008, -4/+26Wow, do you even know anything about it?
- ffttoteof, on 04/28/2008, -5/+26I remember years ago when my co-workers were going mad for the first book, and saying "it's not just for kids, it's really enjoyable for adults too!"
So I go out and buy a copy, read it, and said to myself "that was a *****' childrens book." And that was the last time I ever listened to my co-workers. - Witchdoktor, on 04/28/2008, -2/+22But then the statement that N'sync had a distinct style would have to be true... last time I checked the 90s were full of boy bands- nothing distinct about N'sync. I also am not seeing the huge cultural impact that N'sync had-- they formed pop music for a few years and then faded.
- kelalo, on 04/28/2008, -2/+21No, he just saw the movie. Which means that no, he doesn't know anything about it.
- inactive, on 04/28/2008, -2/+21Hey why not throw the Da Vinci code in there as well? Hell, some Tom Clancy would really round out kids too.
- topgun553, on 04/28/2008, -3/+21Problem: Students rarely read assigned books cover to cover.
Solution: Give them books that are enjoyable to read.
I think it would be good to put at least a few books in a reading list that most kids would want to read the whole way through. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying get rid of all the "classics"-- I am just saying that reading is more beneficial than getting cliff notes. - whodat807, on 04/28/2008, -20/+37That's like saying nsync is as important as the Beatles because they had a distinct style and a huge impact on culture.
- ru1dt, on 04/28/2008, -1/+18if you can't relate to putting up a ladder to reach a girl's balcony, harry potter's not going to help you either
- scottnash, on 04/28/2008, -0/+17Required reading? That should slow down its popularity.
- vernacularninja, on 04/28/2008, -4/+20Yes, because encouraging children to actually engage in and enjoy a book is a travesty. Keep shoving Jane Austen and the Scarlet Letter down their throats and I'm sure the literacy rate will just skyrocket.
- ConceptualTrap, on 04/28/2008, -8/+24JK Rowling can "tell" a story, she can't write one. The prose in all of those books is ***** atrocious. I read four of them and I can't remember a single ***** line from any of them. Not once do I recall thinking, "Nice turn of phrase JK. Kudos to you!"
- adml_shake, on 04/28/2008, -4/+18I don't know if I agree with it being dumbed down. I think that it's a great series to read for young writers/readers to try and better understand how through a bunch of sub stories you can tell one big story, and how to write and resolve sub plots. And it's also a great story, but by the time your in HS and College you should be well beyond this.
- steelclash84, on 04/28/2008, -1/+14Harry Potter on Digg is bound to bring out bias, however with that aside we really need to explore what makes a literary work worthy of being taught in a curriculum. As far as the article is concerned, they are very vague in what constitutes "worthy". The newer generations do significantly less reading than previous generations. It is a bold move to add such a controversial novel to a school curriculum, but maybe that's what schools need to get students interested academically.
I wouldn't consider it a "dumb-down" of students, but more of an introduction to get students interested in literature, and perhaps make students more *willing* to read the classics as opposed to simply reading the Cliffnotes. - inactive, on 04/28/2008, -0/+13Harry Potter absolutely belongs in an English curriculum ... of fifth graders
- Cole2026, on 04/28/2008, -2/+14Education these days is too homogeneous. Required reading should be a vast array of material, from Harry Potter to Shakespeare or Beowulf (or some similar work).
- innocentsinner, on 04/28/2008, -1/+13How about we get kids to actually read first, and then work on making them read more 'literary' books. Most people in my high school english classes just used cliff's notes, sparknotes, pinkmonkey or something similar.
- mnemy, on 04/28/2008, -1/+13Eh. Not a fan of Harry Potter, but I can see why they'd add it. Anything to get kids interested in reading. I had to read those "classics" such as the Scarlet Letter, etc etc, and I really don't get why they're suppose to be so special. They're outdated, and don't speak to today's youth. You're more likely to turn a kid off of reading forcing them to read that kinda BS.
- tont0r, on 04/28/2008, -1/+12It's the work of a dark wizard I tell you!
- ConceptualTrap, on 04/28/2008, -2/+13Old? It's the first piece of western literature ever found. Not to mention that it's an epic poem whose language is on par with the Divine Comedy. The plot may revolve around Conan the Barbarian and dragons but Beowulf is not an easy read. You should give it a try. You'd be surprised, Angelina Jolie's not even in it.
- zeromancer, on 04/28/2008, -8/+19"so true, wtf is that book/series doing in school curriculum?"
Because it it's a good book that kids enjoy reading. What's that you say? That doesn't mean it's good literature?
Congratulations! You've asked the $64k question. It's because ADHD has become an excuse for kids not to learn to concentrate. It's an excuse for parents to drug up their children into submission. Guess what? Concentration doesn't come naturally. It's learned, just like everything else. It was now it has become the best ***** excuse for parents to stop parenting. Grades are on the decline in this country? Well if you can't fix the problem, you might as well just lower the bar!
Way. to *****. go.
*disclaimer: i'm just using adhd as an example of what is wrong with the education system because it is a big problem, but not the sole cause. - inactive, on 04/28/2008, -0/+10Easier to have a "democracy" when the people voting are ***** idiots, having read only pablum growing up
- jer21, on 04/28/2008, -0/+10Why not throw in some Tolkien then?
- meruru, on 04/28/2008, -1/+11You realize this is a story from the UK right?
- Beatmiser, on 04/28/2008, -0/+10You got the digg for the Wokka Wokka.
- ConceptualTrap, on 04/28/2008, -2/+12I can think of at least 5 books this last year that have more literary clout than Harry Potter. Just because you don't read doesn't mean the books aren't being written.
- kipmartin, on 04/28/2008, -3/+12You guys all sound like your parents.
As a BA in English with a Harvard MA in Sanskrit and Comparative Religion, I have no problem with this. Better we get teens reading than trying to convince them Wuthering Heights is better literature. Give them Alexander Pope and they'll never read again.
I grew up on Superman comics, the Twighlight Zone, and 'Day of the Triffids' and I turned out literate. Surely Rowling is worth as much as 'Chldhood's End' which appeared on my reading list at Groton. - exscind, on 04/28/2008, -3/+12Bona fide.
- dave122, on 04/28/2008, -3/+11this comment is full of win.
- JavertHolmes, on 04/28/2008, -3/+11I hope you've all enjoyed my recent change to the curriculum. My next proposed change is to have players play through God of War I and II to learn more about Greek mythology and the battles between Kratos/Cratos and Zeus.
- BenKenobi88, on 04/28/2008, -0/+8Because it's good, classic poetry? It's not a children's story, and it's nothing like the movie if that's what you think. It follows form and metre, uses alliteration, all that jazz...it's worth reading in school.
- omgbanana, on 04/28/2008, -20/+28So then why is Beowulf in the curriculum? I understand that it is old, but it has about as much intellectual value has Harry Potter.
- whodat807, on 04/28/2008, -1/+9Fine. But it's not as if Harry Potter is unique stylistically. There are a million fantasy books in the mold of Harry Potter; it just so happens that Potter's insanely popular. J.K. Rowling didn't make many literary breakthroughs, is all I'm saying. And as for cultural impact... I mean, there should be a sense of scale, no? Sure Harry Potter flies off the shelves and sells a lot of toys and movie tickets, but is it really making a cultural impact? Or is it just popular now?
- whatthefu, on 04/28/2008, -3/+11Good writing.
- had3l, on 04/28/2008, -1/+9Dudes. F**k Daily Mail
- carpeclunes, on 04/28/2008, -0/+7At least it is getting kids to read.
- fieldhockey44, on 04/28/2008, -2/+9I love Harry Potter and think it's one of the most entertaining series to read, but it should NEVER be taken as an academically relevant text. The only curriculum I could see it fitting into would be for elementary schools where it is important for kids to read books they find interesting and engaging, but for college-level entrance exams, including stories by Rowling is like including those by Dan Brown.
- daschupa, on 04/28/2008, -2/+9Yah, and why not just put Goosebumps in there too.
- Harabeck, on 04/28/2008, -0/+7Am I the only one in the world who though The Scarlet Letter was ok?
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