© 2010 David Parker
Every year, every parent approaches me to confide these three things: (1) My child is lazy, (2) My child did not enjoy reading Time Machine over the summer, (3) My child will not want to write. I’d like to meet the person these three statements would not apply to. Aren’t people generally lazy (as in, we don’t want to do things we don’t want to do)? And who would want to spend a summer reading H.G. Wells’ turn of the century dystopian novel about time travel? And who wants to write? Finally, if all of these statements ring so true for me, then why in the hell am I an English teacher?
I think I’m an English teacher for the same reason that I began this writing project. Because I am generally lazy and I need accountability in order to do things I don’t want to do (like write). Because I really can’t stand Time Machine, but I respect the thematic messages of the book and I believe Wells was really on to something when he predicted that the world would essentially ruin itself with technology (though I love my iPhone). Because even though I rarely want to write, I always find it feels good once I make myself do it (kind of like exercise?). There’s something in me that needs and wants to read and write. Teaching helps me understand where that drive comes from.
I’m sure you’re expecting me to explain where that drive comes from, but I don’t have the energy for such deep probes at this late hour the night before the first day of school. I really need to focus on much more immediately important things like what I’m going to wear tomorrow and which design template I should use for my introductory Power Point. In the meantime, perhaps you might think about why we read and write? I could use your input to help direct our discussions about literacy this week. Here are some questions for you to ponder:
- Why do you read?
- Why do you write?
- What do you read the most? (Think about text in general, not just “Literature”)
- What do you write the most?
- What do reading and writing help you accomplish in your life?
- How often do you read and write?
- When you were a student, did you do most of your reading/writing in or out of school?
If you have the time and you’re not feeling lazy (ha!), respond in comments or email me (whitreed at mac dot com).
Hi Whitney
Kate mentioned your blog on Facebook. Thanks for writing. I’m enjoying it. I like the photos too.
I’d like to respond to your questions because they’re good questions (and partly because I hate being an internet lurker). But there are too many as I’m s’posed to be writing my dissertation. Also I’m a student maths teacher .. probably went the maths route cause I’m rubbish at writing although I read a lot. One thing I discovered as a student this year – it’s not until I try to write about what I’ve been reading that I really make sense out of it. Also, writing is much harder than reading. Academic writing anyway (http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/jod/pangur.html).
I look forward to future installments
All the best
Maddy
I feel compelled to answer…perhaps because I, too, am a teacher?? Sigh.
Why do you read? There is only so much in life that I can experience first-hand…but I can experience other events, people, places through reading. Plus, I like to learn-about history, fashion, people, entertainment, religion, etc.
Why do you write? I feel guilty when I don’t.
What do you read the most? (Think about text in general, not just “Literature”) I have discovered recently that most of my favorite books are historical fiction (who knew?!) and fantasy (huh??) which are NOT at all what I would have thought I liked. I do enjoy a frothy fashion mag or the occasional tabloid as well. I do spend a large amount of time reading children’s lit (to Lily and for work.)
What do you write the most? Lesson plans, IEP’s, facebook status updates
What do reading and writing help you accomplish in your life? See above re: experiences and work demands!
How often do you read and write? Read whenever I can string 10 minutes together and I have something good on deck. Writing…not as much as I should (notice I did NOT mention much more than work-related writing above.)
When you were a student, did you do most of your reading/writing in or out of school? Most of it was related to school. I loved the reading part much more than the writing (perhaps I prefer to stay a bit passive??) I always like diving into something else and letting the imagery wash over me. It wasn’t until after school that I really discovered what I liked to read (although some of my favorite books were ones I first read in school.)
Wow. I really like parentheses and ellipses!
Thanks for your responses (you who emailed and you who dropped them here). I appreciate you all so much.
Why do you read? Honestly? I read so that I can brag about how well-read I am. I like to feel smarter than other people.
Why do you write? I like to write to gather my thoughts. I write and write then edit the hell out of it and by the time I’m done, I can start to being to understand my insanity.
What do you read the most? (Think about text in general, not just “Literature”) I read alot of natural science type books; disasters, animal nutrition, ethology, etc. I also love to read anything about going to live alone somewhere. Thoreau, anyone from the islands of Maine.
What do you write the most? about how messed up I am. lots of mournful, wtf kind of stuff.
What do reading and writing help you accomplish in your life? It really helps me complete the little gaps in my own thought patterns. Reading and writing are the little puzzle pieces that make up the big picture.
How often do you read and write? I read everyday. I usually have 3-6 books going at once because I’m crazy.
When you were a student, did you do most of your reading/writing in or out of school? I did whatever the teacher told me and I liked required reading because it gave me an opportunity to excel at something (terrible at math). I liked knowing that people were skipping it and reading cliff’s notes and that come discussion time, I could proudly raise my hand with a confident answer.
I am so mean.