Are we patronising a generation of kids?

Not only will Dickens have to compete with TV, but technology in general. To get the children to simply read period would be a daunting task!..They would much rather Tweet and play games on their ‘droid’s..in a near by school, here in the prairies of Central Illinois, USA, a teacher wanted the kids to bring their mobiles to class to “tweet” him instead of asking questions by voice!!!..

I went to school in the 1940’s, ‘50’s and early ‘60’s (I’m 67 years young, by the way) and reading and taking English classes were mandatory the first 11 grades and my eleventh grade we were required to do a essay on a book, had a “semester” (half a school year) to complete the project, the title of the book and author were drawn out of a hat and I drew The Fall Of The House Of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe ( I was stunned to say the least, smile).. I doubt if one could find a child that even knows what a essay is, let alone compose one, or know how to read today!!

I have read and enjoyed a number of Dickens stories, the children are not aware of what they are missing...

Did manage to find Berkshire online after some browsing to accept your invitation.. listened to Phil Kennedy for a bit along with Paul Miller (hope he finds the appropriate song for the individual in question, perhaps Capello?)… due to circumstances beyond my control , were unable to listen about Dickens but did find the conversations about getting people to pay taxes (hopefully the bankers, smile), parents being too protective about their children and Prince Harry being a pilot, etc. and the music (especially Nat King Cole)… (use to listen to Classic FM but apparently their contract forbids anyone outside the UK from listening, hopefully won’t be the case with your station).. will pop in from time to time….a wonderful way for someone to learn a bit about other societies...