To think it's a shame that To Kill a Mockingbird is no longer taught at GCSE

[liberia03]

At a time when the words of Atticus Finch might help: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”, it seems a shame that this book's not taught any more, alongside any non British writers. Non British writers aren't banned, they're just not part of the exam syllabuses anymore replaced by a 'work of fiction or drama from the British Isles from 1914 onwards'.

Wondering what other books we would like the next generation to learn about or even read before they leave school?

Dawndonnaagain, I totally agree. DS is doing An Inspector Calls and Heard my cry or whatever it's called, only, over two years for English lit! It seems so limited.

I did TKAM for GCSEs in 1996. Also did a book called Talking in Whispers based upon Pinochet's reign in Chile.

Did Frankenstein and Beloved for A'Level.

I did An Inspector Calls as well. I was never that keen on it though. We did Hardy, Shakespeare and Orwell as well. And lots of war poetry. Those were the days when you had to learn the poems, no taking texts into the exams.

I did TKAM for my GCSEs in 1990. And Romeo and Juliet. TKAM was the only book I enjoyed in English Literature. Being forced to sit in a class and reading the books out loud slowly bored me to tears. I'd never read Shakespeare because if this, unless I couldn't sleep.

I'm not sure roll of thunder would be right for a ten year old - i think there are many issues it addresses that need a level of maturity above a ten year old in my opinion.

Exams are closed book now - just an extract to use on the paper but they need to know the text without the book there

I didn't know that. We were not allowed extracts either. I remember learning quotes to put into my essay.

It is Iain Banks, not Ian.

They get a section to talk about but then have to refer to the whole. They are given one poem and then have to talk about another they know from memory. I don't remember what my gcses were in all honesty but I do know I teach some lazy so and sos who would probably struggle to remember which book they've studied

Like @Mrsmorton - books I studied at school are ruined for me. I read TKAM over and over again, before my O level exams, back in the early '80s, and I still hate the thought of it. When Harper Lee's new book was published, I knew there was no way I was ever going to read it.

I am an avid reader - I always have been - and studying literature at school is the only thing that has ever put me off reading particular books. How can you foster a love of literature by making children study it until familiarity has bred contempt?

As an English teacher I struggled to read for pleasure for a long time! It's only in the last couple of years I have started again as I just couldn't read anything without analysing it!!

TKAM was on the syllabus for years but not the year I did GCSE (1990). Our teacher told us all to pick up a copy from the stockroom and read it, but said actually she was quite glad as while it was an excellent and important book, it was actually quite boring to write about - racism is bad, attitudes have changed, characters grow up...

We grumbled loads about doing Mayor of Casterbridge instead but by the time we were half way through we mostly loved it.

Also did Lord of the Flies in Y9 (lots of imagining how we from an all-girls school might have fared), Macbeth, Merchant of Venice, Romeo & Juliet, Hardy, Owen and war poets. Did Hobson's Choice in Y8, (mildly interesting), Animal Farm. but also Unman, Wittering & Zigo in Y7, which I find amazing, especially as we were shown the film even if the teacher did fast-forward the added rape scene!

My eldest studied 'To Kill a Mockingbird' for GCSE last summer - the old syllabus. The play came to our city during their studies so they were able to see it on stage. My youngest is reading 'Jeckyll and Hyde' for GCSE but is at a different school so I'm not sure whether 'TKAM' is still being studied at eldest's old school under new syllabus. They both have studied/are studying 'An Inspector Calls' for GCSE.
I studied 'Far from the Madding Crowd' for O' Level along with 'Merchant of Venice' and a selection of poetry including 'The Old Vicarage at Grantchester' (I can still remember chunks of it!)

Mayor of Casterbridge

I am surprised at Austen is too much - surely some of the easiest classics to read!

Austen is easy enough to read but without a lot of knowledge of the social history and norms, the sarcasm and humour are missed. I thought it was really boring until I was about 26 and ended up using extracts to tutor teenagers, which I found hilarious but trying to explain it to them was really hard.

I can't remember if I studied it at school or read it for pleasure.

I do remember studying Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, A Midsummer Nights Dream, An Inspector Calls, Hobson's Choice, Jane Eyre, Far From The Madding Crowd and Treasure Island at secondary school.

My eldest did Of Mice and Men 2 years ago for his GCSE.

My DTs start their GCSEs next year, they usually tell us at the options evening (which is next week) what books they'll be studying.

Far From The Madding Crowd

Treasure Island Robert Louis Stevenson!

So Wells doesn't get a look in, whereas Dickens does?
They were just suggestions off the top of my head. I have no problem with Wells, I have a problem with limiting things to 'English' Literature when there is great literature all around us.

It is Iain Banks, not Ian.
Apologies.

I have no problem with Wells

To me, "Catcher in the Rye" was probably the most influential beek I read as a teen (I'm not sure if it matters that I am male)

I left school in 2008 and I studied TKAMB at Intermediate 2 (Scottish qualification, level between the GCSE and A level equivalents).

while it was an excellent and important book, it was actually quite boring to write about - racism is bad, attitudes have changed, characters grow up...

I think that's a fair point. As a book to read for pleasure it is superb but as a literary study it falls a bit short.

In comparison, Of Mice and Men offers much more for students to get their teeth into in terms of its literary devices, imagery, foreshadowing etc. As well as being an accessible and engaging story, students can really get a feel of how good literature works.

The Handmaid's Tale would get my vote for similar reasons.

I read it in the late 70's for O level English Lit. We also watched the film during class over a few weeks I think (which began my love affair with Gregory Peck). Love the book.