Email
Print
Love of literature leads 'mystery reader' astray
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: March 26, 2009
We're all familiar with the cliche, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." Once again, sadly, I'm the poster boy.
Recently, parents were asked to volunteer as "mystery readers" in my oldest daughter's class. A mystery reader is an unannounced visitor who reads to the class. The choice of material is left up to the reader, though the teacher has veto power.
Now, reading enchants me to a point bordering on fanaticism. Therefore, like any other zealot, I have a marked inclination to share my enthusiasm with others. So imagine my excitement when I received this invitation. I quickly agreed, chose a date and set about deciding what I would read.
Ahh, but I had such honorable and noble intentions! I'd begin with poetry, share a short story or two and, time permitting, read the first chapter of a classic children's novel in the hopes that the class would be inspired to finish it on their own. Since time was limited, I reluctantly ruled out beginning a novel. Eventually, I picked selections from "The Case of the Marble Monster," a book I read and enjoyed as a child. Then, with my ordinarily flawless judgment clouded by too many viewings of "Dead Poets Society," I chose as my poetry selection Poe's "The Raven."
For a class of third-graders.
My plan was sound, so I thought. With the room lights off, I set the stage by using my most ominous voice to describe the setting; a dark and stormy night in a dimly illumined study, a mysterious bird and the gradual descent into despair and madness of a grief-stricken lover. How could a bunch of third graders possibly not like this? Well, the short stories went over fairly well. But "The Raven?" My daughter still tells me how boring that part was. Singlehandedly, I may have turned them off to poetry.
I should have known this wasn't going to work out. Third grade is too early to introduce children to Poe. My daughter just finished reading the last Harry Potter book, and I believe others in her grade are reading the series as well, so I know they are capable of handling some fairly complex reading.
But "The Raven" was a bit much. There are a host of quality poems for children, but in my fervid attempts to share my love of "classic" poetry, I may have instead planted in their heads the idea that poetry is boring. And nothing is further from the truth.
I believe that the overall popularity of quality children's literature is a good sign, and that I just chose poorly. Well written classic children's literature, like "Peter Pan" or "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," can be enjoyable and addictive even now, provided no one is shoving kids into more arcane literary waters. Throwing them into the deep water before they're ready can ruin literature for them later on.
Shel Silverstein, you have my apologies.
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
