Chalk Talk: So Dickens is too challenging for today’s children? Not for these ones

 

There was one voice missing in the debate earlier this month over when children should start reading Dickens – that of the children themselves.

Now that gap has been filled by a class of year seven pupils (first year secondary school) after reading Dickens' biographer Claire Tomalin's claim that "children have very short attention spans". Thus, she argued, reading a Dickens novel would be too challenging.

Well, say the year sevens from Southend High School for Boys: "As a class we have recently read A Christmas Carol. We have found that the difficulty of the language used by Dickens is not too much of a challenge. The way he presents his ideas is very educational, as we have found that it has helped us to improve our grammar and spelling. We found that reading the novel was fun and engaging. We think that reading a Dickens novel should be done by all year sevens. It was particularly enjoyable seeing Scrooge transform from a mean, 'cold' and 'covetous old sinner' into a kind, loving and joyful man."

They add: "We think that the levels of intelligence of year sixes and sevens are underestimated by some and that we should be challenged to go beyond expectations.

"Therefore, we think that all 10-year-olds and above should be encouraged to read a Dickens novel, yet preferably within school where help can be at hand with the more difficult language choices. They could even start with shortened versions of Dickens' novels, or perhaps excerpts, and then move on to whole novels after a while."

Over to you Messrs Gibb and Gove. A place on your National Curriculum review for these pupils for starters, perhaps?

Good to see on the list of those groups planning to make an application to run a free school next year the proposal to set up a school in Lewisham, south London, to wean young people away from the gang culture.

Let us hope that the Diaspora High School, which pledges guaranteed work experience for its pupils when they reach the school leaving age to avoid them going straight out on to the streets, gets the nod this time.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Top stories
News in pictures
World news in pictures
UK news in pictures
UK news in pictures
More stories
       
Independent
Travel Shop
India and Shimla
14 nights from only £1899pp Find out more
Prague city break
Three nights from £199pp Find out more
4* Soreda hotel break, Malta
Seven nights all-inclusive from £399pp Find out more

Day In a Page

James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

The man who's eaten everywhere

Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

Eat Spam and carry on

Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

Facial hair

Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats
Giro d'Italia: The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

As the Giro d'Italia tackles the brutal climb, Simon Usborne takes on the snow and switchbacks – and soon realises what the fuss is about
National archives: Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Newly unearthed papers reveal a shocking extra dimension to the constitutional crisis over monarch’s abdication
Sent down at the Old Bailey: A tour of the world's most famous court

Sent down at the Old Bailey

A tour of the world's most famous court
Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

The Hangover actor Zach Galifianakis’s date for his movie premieres isn’t arm candy  – it’s his 87-year-old friend who he saved from homelessness
British football scores an own goal

British football scores an own goal

Many managers barely survive a year in post. Martin Baker talks to experts who make a case for clubs using forensic business skills to find the best staff
James Lawton: Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again

James Lawton

Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again