RJ-What should a good education include?

The subject came up in my English class the other day and I was (cough) forced (cough) to write a half page about it. Here it is. With, of course, some slight altercations.

People should read the classics more often. I mean, seriously. My friends don’t even know who Jane Austen is and the one that did told me I was weird. This friend also thinks she’s a witch. You tell me who’s saner.

In any case, it doesn’t matter if a “good education” is available, who’d take advantage of it? Our society is built on the belief that anything worth having must come quickly. We are the Instant Gratification Generation. Why do you think trade schools exist? Easy education and ready made job. I’m not saying these are a bad thing. I entered one and now have a CNA and am lining myself up for a job that pays more then your average burger flipping happy meal paycheck.

At any rate, I believe a sound foundation in good literature (the classics, etc.) should be required. I mean, dear lord, I’ll settle for Dan Brown and Michael Crighton as long as it’s SOMETHING besides Mistborn and Twilight! I have no doubt that Brandon Sanderson has a definite skill with words, but what does it teach? Where’s the questions of what is ethical and the characters’ growth? There’s more to a book then the story. What about it challenges the reader to think? That’s why I’ve never been able to get through any of the Wheel of Time series. All there is to these books is the story! You have to put in your own guesses as to how the character has changed. You ASSUME the man is different because his wife died. What have we to show for it? He stops eating? He never smiles? These are all physical. What is he going through emotionally? Are we ever truly going to know? Too often these stories are repetitive as well. It teaches the reader NOTHING. The characters don’t grow. There is no point to the book.

This was followed up with a sarcastic comment by myself and my teacher’s advice to “Blog this”. Which I did, sadly enough. No I would not jump off the roof if my teacher asked me to. But I would seriously consider it. However, with this whole non-fiction section in our (oh what’s the word…) syllabus, I’m beginning to think I’d rather push Mr. Al Capote off the roof. (Curse you In Cold Blood!) I just found out the other day that I could’ve listened to the entire book and not have to deal with the whole “can I borrow your book?” “Oh I left it at my house accidentally.” “What do you mean there’s no more copies available in the school library?!” Absolutely ridiculous. Well, today was our last “literature circle” and it shouldn’t be long before the end of the term. I’m mentally trying to drown that from my mind with songs and stories and absolutely meaningless chatter. (“Oh there’s a dance coming up? Oh you’re going? That’s fantastic! I wish I could get asked! Aw you’ll be so pretty!”) As you can tell, inane chatter puts me in a fine mood and I end up being more irritated then before.

Speaking of which, I picked up my new story again today and started writing. Maybe this will go farther. I need to be someone that’s very life depends on their ability to be cold and emotionless (My main character, Darcy. It’s a girl. Not a boy. As much as I love Pride and Prejudice.).

I’ll see if I can post our original blog thingy soon. It’s on a different computer so we’ll see how that goes.

-Red Jabberwocky