Beyond Shakespeare: What English Class Could Be

The English Curriculum in our school feels outdated and stuck in the past. Many of the texts that the curriculum assigns come from authors who lived hundreds of years ago and just don’t resonate with modern teens. While studying classic literature is important, and many of the books assigned in the English curriculum actually have important universal themes like identity, mortality, freedom, the way they are taught can often feel tedious and sometimes even exhausting for students. 

The lack of diversity in assigned texts is a major problem and may limit teenagers' ability to see themselves in what they study. Traditionally, most of the books students are assigned to read were written by old white males from centuries ago but because of this, it may not always address the experiences of modern day students and how it affects their lives. Culturally diverse literature would help broaden students' understanding of the world while helping students of diverse backgrounds to truly believe in what they are reading. For example, authors like Toni Morrison, Roxane Gay, and James Baldwin are all amazing diverse authors that should definitely be taught more.  By embracing a more diverse and inclusive English curriculum, all students are provided with the opportunity to see the world from different perspectives, gain a deeper connection with themselves, and connect with a broader human experience. 

A modernized English curriculum could balance classic literature with media that teenagers actually engage with today and have a greater impact on the modern world. I guarantee you more teens listen to music than read books, so why limit ourselves? Beyond books, more teachers could implement song lyrics, screenplays, interactive digital media, etc more often which all tell compelling stories that address complex themes just like classic literature. For example, artists like Kendrick Lamar use their lyrics to address topics such as gang violence, social injustice, and mental health. In fact, students might actually start reading more after learning that books have similar themes as their favorite media.

Students should be comparing classic books to modern texts with similar themes, teaching how literature reflects the surrounding world and changes with the social and historical context. Students would learn how to compare and contrast. While themes like justice, inequality, and identity appear in texts old and new, the way they are perceived and portrayed change based on the society writing them.