Literature Should Not Be Taught In Schools Essay

“I 've always said art is a revolution that makes people feel good.” Richard Prince, an artist himself, explains here that art is abstract, entirely up to the interpreter. Literature comes in all forms: poetry, novels, short stories and in various other demonstrations. Literature is an art form, and art is not meant to be studied in formal institutions, but rather appreciated in casual settings. Every idea should be valid and the texts should not be diminished to right and wrong answers. Literature courses, especially in university classrooms, are reduced to a contest for marks. Formal education generally interprets texts on a singular level; something which is not meant to be done to these magnificent literary forms. Furthermore, schools teach students the difference from “good” and “bad” literature. But who is to decide this? Good and bad literature should be left up to the reader and interpreter, not influenced by a professor’s syllabus. Of course, literature teaches students proper grammatical …show more content…
Literature teaches students common themes and ideas which are present throughout history. Literature written centuries ago is still relevant today as the nature of the human mind varies little over time. Prevalence of certain concepts remain apparent throughout the centuries. And from these works of literature life lessons can be learnt. But these valuable life lessons are best learnt when the reader understands the literature on a personal level. In formal institutions these messages are lost amid the battle for grades. They are reduced to “clear-cut themes” (Siegel). Literature courses can be used as a vehicle to understand the minds of humans. Literature is so very crucial to the development of human nature. Nevertheless, in school settings the discussion of ideas are silenced and overpowered by one person’s perception of the work. Literature is meant to evoke conversation and to appeal to everybody in a different