Can reading be an EC?

danas
Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:21:23 +0000

wis75…
I respect what you are saying, but in my opinion school gets in the way of relating to others and ECs. The only time my kids were allowed to relate to others in school was at lunch time. My daughter was able to become one of the best ballet dancers her age only because she didn’t have to go to school. Both kids were blessed with never having any assignments or homework after bailing out. How can such chores be justified? Only on anti-human terms, IMO.
But I digress. The wonders of reading. Two examples. My son read the Studs Lonigan trilogy. One of the top 25 or so American works of the 20th century, according to a respected survey. The entire narrative took place within a mile or so from where we live. What are the chances he would have read this in school? It never would have happened.
My daughter just signed up for a college literature course. She is supremely excited. Ford Maddox Ford is one of her favorite authors. I’ll bet that she will be the only one in her class who has read Ford Maddox Ford.
To me, school rations learning rather than expands it.