Gove kills the mockingbird with ban on US classic novels ...what do you think?

[mrz]

www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/article1414764.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2014_05_24

[NeedaDiscoNap]

He's a twat.

Every time I've taught 'To Kill a Mockingbird' pupils have been moved by it and enjoyed every bit of it.

He's so shortsighted it's ridiculous.

[CharlesRyder]

We really must kill this man.

[meditrina]

I can only see a preview of the article because it's behind a paywall.

What is actually on the new list?

[TunipTheUnconquerable]

Stupid thing to do. To Kill A Mockingbird is one that teens actually like. Likewise The Crucible.
Partly agree with him about Of Mice And Men but at least it's short.

There's no good reason I can think of to make kids only study British literature. Only doing American authors would be a bit of a shame but writing off all non-British ones is just as bad.

[PaulinesPen]

I don't understand. The article doesn't give Gove's reasons for this. What is he driving at now ffs? My dd has just studied Of Mice And Men and loved it.

[StealthPolarBear]

What did he say about Of Mice and Men? I really enjoyed that one.
To Kill A Mockingbird is brilliant.
So is it all Shakespeare and Dickens from now? Or is he being more inventive?

[LaurieFairyCake]

Can't read the link but doubt it will make me think he's less of a twat.

They just did a Gcse last week on 'to kill a mockingbird' and the kids love it. It's an excellent book and film.

I can't think of any reason not to use it apart from my original 'goves a twat ' comment

[CharlesRyder]

One of Gove's primary motivation seems to be that no child actually enjoys their education.

How can it be good for you if you are having a good time?

[meditrina]

He's not writing off all non-Uk literature - the bit of the article I can see says a quarter will be non-UK.

Are all exam boards in step on this?

And is there a non-paywall version of the list? I am assuming that the books on it will be suitable, and that not every suitable/enjoyable book will feature all the time.

[MrsKCastle]

Bloody hell. To Kill a Mockingbird is excellent, thought-provoking and a perfect text for GCSE.

Is there a link to the new list somewhere?

[MuttonCadet]

I loved to kill a mockingbird, it's a great book.

[PaulinesPen]

'Of Mice and Men, which Michael Gove really dislikes' I'm sure Steinbeck would have been terribly upset about that

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

Twat.

[TheOneWithTheHair]

This is just absurd!

How can someone who's supposed to give a shit about children's education restrict it in such a way.

Can he even do this? I know he's in charge of education but does he really get to dictate the syllabus? What utter madness!

[CMP69]

He's a fuckwit! Simples

[CalamitouslyWrong]

This is yet another example of why Gove is a total nightmare who has absolutely no idea about educating children but loads of power to fuck about as he sees fit.

What possible rationale could there be for only studying British texts (other than some dreadful glory days of when Britain ruled the world attitude, which Gove seems to have in spades, of course)?

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

He seems to be the Kim Jong-Il of Education.

[VivaLeBeaver]

He's a dick brain, total fucking dick brain.

Why on earth is he allowed to make low level decisions like this. Surely his job should involve policy decisions and budgets. Leave the teaching decisions to the teachers.

[TheSarcasticFringehead]

Twat Also, I quite enjoyed Of Mice and Men, it's quite a short book.

[VivaLeBeaver]

How can he do this just because he dislikes a book. Its crazy. I liked Of Mice And Men and To Kill a Mockingbird is the best book ever.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Next thing Jeremy Hunt will be saying he's scared of swimming so he's banning pool births.

[weatherall]

To kill a mockingbird is dangerous and shouldn't be taught in schools.

It perpetuates a rape myth "women lie about rape".

This endangers all our daughters as it contributes to the culture where only a tiny % of rapists get convicted.

Juries, police, prosecutors and the public believe that it is easy and common for women to lie about rape, as is shown in this book and film.

This cultural belief is so ingrained no one even noticed the powerful and dangerous message in this book.

[CalamitouslyWrong]

That's exactly the kind of logic that seems to drive education policy in England, viva. It's terrifying.

[PaulinesPen]

[grin]@Saga. Maybe all schoolkids will be told to have his hairstyle too.

[gardenfeature]

Do you know if this will apply to the current Yr 9s who are just about to start their GCSEs or will it be for the Yr 8s who will be the first to take the new exams?