At Evanston Township High School, taking English all four years is required. The ETHS website states that English is a “core academic subject that helps students become strong readers, writers, and thinkers,” and that in these classes “students explore literature—from timeless classics to contemporary works—and learn how stories reflect different cultures, identities, and historical moments.”
As students progress through their time at ETHS, the opportunities in classes they can take expand. Freshman English (Humanities/English 1) and sophomore English (English 2) are all required before one can take any Advanced Placement or other English options. In these classes, the books that the classes have to read come from a list. Teachers choose which books to read from this list. For example, if you’ve ever compared a book you’re reading in English to a friend’s book, chances are, they won’t be the same. However, most Freshman English classes do read classic literature like Homer’s The Odyssey and William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The same sentiment is shared for sophomore English classes; most will read William Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
However, many still have questions about the effectiveness of this. For example, are these books enjoyable? Do they spark students to have a passion for reading? Do students enjoy reading in class? These responses differ from person to person.
Many like the opportunity to read books that they would have never read, expanding their horizons.
I definitely don’t think I’d reach for a play by Shakespeare while reading on my own, but I enjoyed reading Macbeth in class,” said sophomore Penelope Donohue.
The books are also often enjoyable for students, boosting their love of reading, while challenging and interesting many. “The books that I read in English are all pretty interesting to read, and I find them super relevant,” stated sophomore Jackson Murphy. “They also expose me to many different kinds of writing.”
However, there are also things that people dislike about reading books in their English classes.
“I dislike that sometimes books are long and wordy,” mentioned junior Chloe Wingader, who is taking AP Language and Composition. “When we don’t dissect them in class, they can be difficult to understand.”
Sometimes, students feel as if the work attached to their reading is busy work, making them less likely to enjoy the text overall. This can be difficult to balance as a teacher because the assignments can be very crucial to a student’s overall understanding of the book, yet not every student loves every type of assignment given.
The only thing that I dislike about the books we read in English is that the classwork that is attached to the reading takes away from the ability to enjoy the book,” said Murphy.
It is also important to take independent reading into consideration. Every student has a different perspective on what they like to read, and even whether they enjoy reading as a whole. The time students have to read independently depends on the teacher. Some set up copious amounts of class time for it, others don’t prioritize it when planning out a schedule.
“I do enjoy reading, and I really appreciate independent reading time in class because I often find it hard to find time to read outside of school,” Donohue states.
Overall, reading and analyzing texts are important parts of learning in high school. Learning these skills helps students who seek to pursue higher education, as well as students who are just living their day-to-day lives. However, students’ perspectives on it differ from person to person.
