We Want Young People to Read (original) (raw)
James Duban is a professor of English at the University of North Texas. He is the author of books about Herman Melville, Henry James, and college achievement. His book on Melville explores, among other concerns, 19th century attitudes about race.
Updated January 6, 2011, 12:46 PM
My wife and I used to shop at discount stores and used-book shops for kids’ versions of classic novels to read to our children. Good stuff. Years later, they are avid readers.
In today’s wasteland of 'gaming' and other electronic distractions, I applaud any effort to perpetuate the reading and enjoyment of great fiction.
School kids should be able, at their teacher’s discretion, to read modified editions of classic works. We are, after all, talking about young people, and about many educators who would feel more comfortable teaching Mark Twain’s adventure stories with the NewSouth text.
There will be time enough in high school or college to study the original books and learn how those explore, and ultimately subvert, bigotry. In today’s wasteland of “gaming” and other electronic distractions, I applaud any effort to perpetuate the reading and enjoyment of great fiction.
Jill Nelson, author, "Finding Martha's Vineyard"
Jane Smiley, author, "Private Life"
Paul Butler, Law professor and former prosecutor
Shelley Fisher Fishkin, professor, Stanford University
Thomas Glave, author, "The Torturer's Wife"
We Want Readers
James Duban, English professor, University of North Texas
Gish Jen, author, "World and Town"
David Matthews, author, "Ace of Spades"
Francine Prose, author, "Anne Frank: The Book, the Life, the Afterlife"
Mark Bauerlein, English professor, Emory
Timothy Jay, author, "Cursing in America"