English Literature as a Central Component of High School Education and Why Should It Be Saved - Essay Example

of the English Literature ic and Modern) of the Concerned 21 May English Literature as a Central Component ofHigh School Education and why should it be Saved? Going by the fact that the need for assuring high grades has emerged to be of pivotal importance in the college and school education, this has relegated the need for studying art and literature to a secondary slot. The schools and colleges are drastically reducing the class room time dedicated to the study of literature. The study of literature has been slipping owing to a more than average stress on the study of science, management and other applied disciplines, the ever burgeoning volume of state mandates that require the school and college curriculums to be crammed with science, mathematics and economics, the growing public perception that art may sound good, but is of minute importance, the shrinking education budgets and the expanding aversion on the part of the college and school students to actively engage in the studies of arts. Yet, there is also emerging a positive facet to this dilemma. Many school districts are pursuing a proactive approach towards the inclusion of literature in the school and college curriculums. Though the prevalent perception had been that studying literature is a waste of time and effort and it is something that the students can engage in their free time as a voluntary initiative, there is no dearth of studies that indicate that there is a very potent and clear connection between the study of literature and the larger academic achievement, thereby making a strong plea for the inclusion of literature in school and college programs (Sumara 42). The study of literature at schools and colleges pertains to pursuing a systematic and methodical approach towards the studying of poems, essays, novels and stories. Literary study to a large extent means reading the works of literature, meditating on them, discussing about them in the class with peers and teachers, and writing about them. Going by the augmenting desire for acquiring practical skills amongst the students, parents, school and college authorities and the state, many school districts are moving towards encouraging business and technical education towards the exclusion of literary studies. The primary premise that is pushing the practice of such polices is the assumption that literature is of little practical and technical value and is a discipline that is sans any utilitarian significance. In other words literature is considered to be a leisure activity with scarce potential to impart anything of practical significance to the skill pool of the college and school students. Yet, based on the assertion made by several social and scientific studies, it would be utterly faulty to assume that the study of literature is bereft of any practical significance. The academic fallacy that needs to be vehemently corrected in the contemporary times is that literature is a discipline that is of scarce practical significance. Not only this, but literary studies is an activity that endows students with many other peripheral skills and abilities that salubriously impact their overall academic achievement. In that context, it will be really interesting to delve on the varied benefits that the literary studies accrue to the college and school students. One direct pragmatic advantage that ensues from the study of literature is that since literature involves, reading, discussing, meditating on and writing about the works of literature, literary studies has the potential to stimulate the creative, imaginative, thinking, reasoning and writing skills of the students, an achievement that is bound to have a benign impact on the study of other disciplines are they science, economics, business, mathematics, etc (Roberts 367). Hence, the study of literature improves the overall grasping and expressive abilities of the students. The process of reading carefully the works of literature not only bolsters the vocabulary and language skills of the students, it also hones their sensitivity towards the written text and their sophistication in writing, speaking and expressing themselves. In a class room scenario, while teaching literature, the teachers can not only teach the students as to how to think critically, but can also teach them how to look for varied meanings inherent in a written text, thereby strengthening their hold over the ability to understand and use language. The discussions undertaken in the classrooms hone the reading and thinking skills of the students and enhance the ability of the students to express their views and ideas in an oral or written format. If literature is taught in a right and appropriate manner by the skilled and competent teachers, it could multifariously stimulate the students’ ability to record and organize their views and thoughts in writing, a skill that is of immense relevance in the study of other subjects like business, economics, science, sociology, history, political science, public administration, etc (Roberts 368). The verbal skills acquired by the students while engaging in the study of difficult texts is an ability that is readily transferable to the study of other subjects. If it is put forth in simple words, it means that an individual methodically trained in the study of literary texts, is better equipped as compared to other people to read and analyze many other types of so called practical texts like newspapers, reports, office memos and briefs. It is not without a reason that at law schools, it is the English majors that stand to be the brightest students. Yet, the study of literature is not merely about the acquisition of the practical skills like a good vocabulary, and the ability to write and speak in a meaningful and impressive manner. The study of literature at schools and colleges endows the students with multifarious intellectual abilities. It is a known fact that individuals tend to be highly skilled in activities that they practice in a direct and engaging manner. Hence, while studying literature, students indulge in the process of knowledge acquisition in a direct and engaging manner. The study of literature is an activity that is not only intellectually challenging, but also happens to be far superior to many other activities like consuming media and net surfing that impart knowledge in a passive manner. Hence, the students of literature do develop a hands on and proactive approach towards the issues impacting their life and are able to deal with them with greater confidence and poise (Lacina 309). The study of varied characters and scenarios in the works of literature arms the students with an in depth knowledge of the human abilities and weaknesses, thereby making them more astute and savvy while dealing with the real life situations (Lacina 309). Hence, in a way, studying literature is to a great extent like studying the actual life with all its innate intricacies, subtleties, complexities and nuances. Thereby, literature imparts to the students an exposure that is not only holistic and deep, but is something that they may miss in the school of life. The study of literature at school level not only endows a student with a readily available knowledge and understanding of the combined literary and cultural heritage of the entire world, but also conveniently furnishes one with a commensurate knowledge and understanding of the varied other disciplines like history, sociology, politics, psychology, anthropology, culture and a plethora of other things. Hence the study of literature at college and school not only leads to the creation of well read human beings, but rather facilitates a genuine interest in the entire literary and cultural heritage of the world. Literature broadens the intellectual horizons of a student and encourages one to know more about the people and concepts surrounding one (Lacina 310). After saying everything possible regarding the utilitarian aspects of literature, it certainly needs t be said that literature titillates the leisure seeking aspect of a student (Wales & Clarke 20). As literature has an indispensible leisure element tagged to it, the study of literature at schools affords the much needed leisure and enjoyment to the students, which not only effectively de-stresses them, but also extends to them the ability and the strength to readily engage in other disciplines that are relatively dry and prosaic. The study of literature at the school level prepares the citizens of tomorrow to approach life with zest and confidence (Wales & Clarke 20). It enhances the capacity of the students to sympathize and empathize with others and imparts them with the much needed human touch that is getting so rare in the contemporary fast and busy world. It broadens the intellectual capacity of the students by enabling them to participate in and think about the complexities of life in a vicarious manner. It is not a surprise that there do are many professional colleges dedicated to the studies of practical disciplines like science and business that are contemplating introducing literature in their curricula. Hence, it goes without saying that the teaching off literature at the school level is of paramount importance for the all round and holistic development of the professionals of tomorrow. Literature not only extends language and reasoning skills to the students that boost their overall academic life, but also loosens their nerves, thereby allowing them to approach life in a calm, confident and relaxed manner. Works Cited Lacina, Jan. “Social Skills and Leadership Abilities Among Children in Small-Group Literature Discussion”. Childhood Education 87.4 (2011): 309-310. Print. Roberts, Sherron Killingsworth. “Using Literature Study Groups to Construct Meaning in Undergraduate Study Groups”. Journal of Teacher Education 49.5 (1998): 366-369. Print. Sumara, Dennis J. Why Reading Literature in School Matters. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2008. Print. Wales, Jenny & Clarke, Paul. Learning Citizenship. New York: RoutledgeFalmer, 2008. Print. Read More