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?

I still teach Mockingbird, Roll of Thunder, Huckleberry Finn, As the NI syllabus still embraces American writers as well as Irish ones obviously! The anti racism message is so strong in each book. -And we also teach Goodnight Mister Tom, Lord of the Flies , Animal Farm and The Boy in Striped Pyjamas and Empire of the Sun and Inspector Calls which are brilliant for exploring the Holocaust and WW2 issues, Communism etc. Plus brilliant American books like Gatsby and Streetcar. What a shame that Gove excluded great Irish and American literature for exam purposes. At school we did The Heart is a Lonely Hunter too.

I know its a classic, and it is good, but I think a little overrated. But probably better than some of the books they read for GCSEs.

My partner done that for his GCSE in the 70's. I finished school in the late 90's and we never read that book.

Horrid you should try it. Apparently It's Victoria Beckham's favourite book even though she doesn't read books and Harper is named after the author. Does anyone actually believe that though? Plus of course a gorgeous movie to match.

I have never watched the whole film only middle to end of the film. I would like to add that book to my Collection.

Cara absolutely not. I believe in teaching literature of all kinds and from all eras and places. However as a teacher of some 20 years I also know that if you struggle with literacy/dyslexia/sld then reading pre 20th century text is inaccessible.

The syllabus is restrictive to pupils who struggle and will put the off reading. Not everyone is a fantastic reader.

My DS is doing his exams this year. He has read The Sign of Four, Macbeth and DNA and a book full of poetry. He has hated most of it.

In year 9 we read I know Why The Caged Bird Sings.
I took my exams in 1999. We read Blood Brothers and The Merchant of Venice. I got a B in English Lit. Fuck knows how! I only read bits of the books.

I found that my English lessons killed my love of reading for a long time.

Last year, at the age of 33, I read The handmaid's Tale, 1984, TKAMB, Brave New World and Animal Farm. I loved them all and it has made me sad to think that school made reading seem like a chore.