The Issue With Required Reading And Why It Needs to Change

Why do teenagers hate to read?

In the age of technology, it comes as no surprise that teenagers and children are far more likely to pick up their phone or TV remote than a book or newspaper. This occurs due to the modern young-adults mindset for quick entertainment that requires no effort. And regardless of what you may think, this is a problem everyone has, but it's whether you choose to break that habit or not is what concerns me.

Reading is considered a form of entertainment, an activity that causes glee for many, but it is also an activity that requires prolonged periods of time and effort. However, this is just one part of the problem, because in order for a teen to feel compelled to take the time to read they have to first enjoy it. That is where the problem lies.

You can blame parents for not infusing literature into a child's life as the root of their lack of desire to read, however, I don't believe that's the issue. The problem isn't lack of encouragement, but rather force and obligation. Throughout a public school system, required reading is a crucial part of a child's education, and I completely stand by this. Reading is necessary for children and it is substantially impactful for everyday life. The problem isn't requiring a child to read, but rather what is required to be read.

The modern-day required reading list has changed very little over the years, making few to none alterations. For an education system that is continually being changed and advanced over the years in order to optimize education, it is surprising to note that the same books that were being required of their parents and their grandparents are the same ones that students of this generation are being told to read. While math programs continue to see changes in curriculum, such as common core, English has remained relatively the same with children reading novels such as Pride and Prejudice and Of Mice And Men despite the fact that they were written a great number of years before them and are relatively dated. With that being said, there is nothing wrong with classics, throw in a few here and there as they aren't worthless and will offer themes and lessons that are impactful while going through adolescence, but also understand that it is hard for a child or teen to relate or connect to a book that is set in a time period with far different societal standards and expectations than the ones currently present. The avid reader will enthrall themselves in these books because, yes they are great books, but to the average student these will ring no significance. Book's such as Island of the Blue Dolphins, published in 1960, showcase characters with problems unrelatable to a current elementary student. Additionally, dated use of vocabulary can lead to boredom and disinterest, and therefore a lack of desire to read outside of the classroom. With the only books being exposed to them dating far before they were born, it is no surprise children and teenagers have no inclination to read in their free time. Requiring students to read irrelevant novels leads to resentment towards required reading. But it is not as if these are the only novels with such themes and therefore the only ones that must be read, plenty of books published today have the same themes and messages that their predecessors expressed. The twist is: they have a modern setting. 

Believe it or not, the books published in the 21st century are just a well written as the classics, and although their package is different, many offer the same lessons and stories about friendship, love, sacrifice, and hardship among others. With a revamped dialogue and setting, these novels are far more likely to be accepted by the modern reader. Don't believe me? Try it out, no harm can come from reading. Even then, implementing the modern novel into the current curriculum can have drastic effects on a child's inclination to pick up a book from the library.
Take Harry Potter for instance. Yes, it wasn't written just yesterday, but the series is still coveted and beloved by many who connect to the flawed characters and enjoy the nail-biting plot. Harry Potter teaches lessons about friendship and perseverance while also entertaining kids and teenagers alike. But if that isn't profound enough for you, there is also plenty of novels that are conscious of current events and issues that are far more likely to be prevalent than a novel written thirty or more years ago. Novels that incite feelings of change and leadership that need to be present in the lives of students.
I recently read a book, entitled, The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas, a phenomenal book centered around a young girl and the black lives matter movement. This story is far more reminiscent of the modern teenager and more likely to be relatable to young black girls who have a lack of representation in the classics we value so dearly. It is a thought-provoking book that discusses discovering one's identity, something that almost all teenagers experience, versus the enthrallment of suitors, a far cry from modern-day teens.
With that said, in a more advanced classroom setting, these suggestions are not ideal for analyzing complex rhetorical devices, however, these stylistic features can still be found in books published in the 21st century. Of course, this is up to educators to decide, and perhaps they should choose to look into these rather than take the easy way out time and time again.
There is nothing irrevocably wrong with reading classic literature, but in the long run, it may stifle a young adults desire to read and develop a prerequisite for all literature among these young minds.