I have always loved reading, but this is the first book that I read that I truly devoured. It was the first time I read a book that I just couldn't put down and I was so sad to leave it when I finished reading the last page. So for about a year now, I have been encouraging Jacob to read the book in the hopes that he will enjoy it as much as I have over the years. I guess the title threw him because he was reluctant to pick up the book. Thus began my oh so subtle campaign (I took cues from Sam I Am--think Dr. Seuss, not Sean Penn) to persuade him to give it a try.
We got a puppy last summer, and I insisted that we name her Scout, and even after I told Jacob that the name came from the main character of To Kill a Mockingbird, he still seemed uninterested even though he enjoys reading. I had high hopes that it would be required reading in sixth grade because it was required when I was in sixth grade, but apparently, they don't really teach literature in sixth grade in this school district (don't get me started). At the end of the school year, I suggested that he and I read it together over the summer. His response was simple, "Nah." Now that seventh grade has started, I hoped he would be getting a required reading list that included my beloved book. Not so much. Again, even though he is in advanced English and has a separate reading class, he will not be studying the finer aspects of literature. This year is all about grammar, writing, and building vocabulary, which are all important things; however, by now I was well versed in symbolism, themes, irony and all those wonderful layers that unfold when delving deep into literature. I can't help but think standardized testing has played its ugly hand here, but I digress.
We got a puppy last summer, and I insisted that we name her Scout, and even after I told Jacob that the name came from the main character of To Kill a Mockingbird, he still seemed uninterested even though he enjoys reading. I had high hopes that it would be required reading in sixth grade because it was required when I was in sixth grade, but apparently, they don't really teach literature in sixth grade in this school district (don't get me started). At the end of the school year, I suggested that he and I read it together over the summer. His response was simple, "Nah." Now that seventh grade has started, I hoped he would be getting a required reading list that included my beloved book. Not so much. Again, even though he is in advanced English and has a separate reading class, he will not be studying the finer aspects of literature. This year is all about grammar, writing, and building vocabulary, which are all important things; however, by now I was well versed in symbolism, themes, irony and all those wonderful layers that unfold when delving deep into literature. I can't help but think standardized testing has played its ugly hand here, but I digress.
Desperate to get this book on Jacob's radar, I decided to loan him my copy weeks ago when he was looking for something to read. Nothing. My last ditch effort came when I decided to add the movie to our Netflix queue. You see, the kids and I have a long standing ritual of reading a book and then watching the movie counterpart. We then discuss how the two compared and which one we enjoyed more. The book always wins. When Jacob saw me updating the queue, he insisted that I not add the movie just yet because he eventually planned to read the book, but not right now. Then out of the blue today, he finally decided to crack it open. I was just giddy...that is, until I saw Jacob dog ear one of the pages to mark his place. Oh no he di'int! Oh yes he did! I mean who is raising this kid?!
When I was in elementary school, I had the greatest librarian. Her name was Mrs. Barksdale and she influenced my love of books almost as much as my own mother did. When our class went to the library, Mrs. Barksdale made all of the students line up at the sink so we could wash our hands before touching the books. Then we all chose our seats and the one lucky student who sat in the secretly marked chair was allowed to select his book first and read it while lounging in the whimsically painted claw foot tub filled with colorful throw pillows that sat center stage in Mrs. Barksdale's library. (Alright, now that I have children, the idea of allowing the kids to lounge in a pile of throw pillows gives me pause what with head lice being so prevalent in school settings.Yikes! That being said, the rest of library time was nothing short of enchanting.)
Not only did Mrs. Barksdale make library time special, but she went to great lengths to teach us how to handle and care for books, how to really appreciate books. She was a lovely woman but you didn't want to cross her. So watching Jacob dog ear that page in my most favorite book, my inner Mrs. Barksdale wanted to smack the back of his head, but she and I restrained ourselves. I said in a horror stricken tone, "Jacob, what are you doing!?" To which he so innocently replied, "What? I don't have a bookmark." It was as though we had never even met.
Just what goes on in those school libraries these days? Next thing you know, the kids will all have ebook readers and the crinkling sounds of a book's spine opening, the wonderful tactile experience of turning the pages, and the warm yellowing hues of aging books will be meaningless to upcoming generations. The horror, the horror.
When I was in elementary school, I had the greatest librarian. Her name was Mrs. Barksdale and she influenced my love of books almost as much as my own mother did. When our class went to the library, Mrs. Barksdale made all of the students line up at the sink so we could wash our hands before touching the books. Then we all chose our seats and the one lucky student who sat in the secretly marked chair was allowed to select his book first and read it while lounging in the whimsically painted claw foot tub filled with colorful throw pillows that sat center stage in Mrs. Barksdale's library. (Alright, now that I have children, the idea of allowing the kids to lounge in a pile of throw pillows gives me pause what with head lice being so prevalent in school settings.Yikes! That being said, the rest of library time was nothing short of enchanting.)
Not only did Mrs. Barksdale make library time special, but she went to great lengths to teach us how to handle and care for books, how to really appreciate books. She was a lovely woman but you didn't want to cross her. So watching Jacob dog ear that page in my most favorite book, my inner Mrs. Barksdale wanted to smack the back of his head, but she and I restrained ourselves. I said in a horror stricken tone, "Jacob, what are you doing!?" To which he so innocently replied, "What? I don't have a bookmark." It was as though we had never even met.
Just what goes on in those school libraries these days? Next thing you know, the kids will all have ebook readers and the crinkling sounds of a book's spine opening, the wonderful tactile experience of turning the pages, and the warm yellowing hues of aging books will be meaningless to upcoming generations. The horror, the horror.
No comments:
Post a Comment