Chapter 1 "Classics IN the Classroom"

One of the points in this chapter is this: Reading Literature Educates Students' Imaginations. I believe that this is 100% true. The example of Gus and Bigger is just one of many examples that we can use to exemplify this. When we are giving our students literature, we need to keep this in mind. For instance, students in bad neighborhoods or those who come from poor families need literature to help them escape. When these students are reading it is a good idea to give them novels that give them hope. When reading students relate to the characters in the novels. They can take things away from their situations and begin to adapt those morals, values, and ideas to their lives. I know for instance when I was trying to find myself in high school, my teacher set the infamous "To Kill A Mockingbird" on my desk and it changed my life. I remember thinking about someone like Tom Robinson who had nothing going for him. I was feeling sorry for him and thought of just how easy my life really was. Then I could also relate to Atticus Finch. He was a man who I envied because he had all of his things together, and he knew how to be a man in a town full of boys. It's inspiring to read fiction like this book, however non-fiction is just as powerful as fiction. Many non-fiction books give us insight into lives of people we can only dream to emulate. Autobiographies about our favorite sports stars and idols can be very inspirational. Someone such as Marshall Mathers, who came up from nothing, and rose to be one of the biggest white rappers in America's history could truly touch the lives of students. I was very moved by this section in this chapter, and I believe it touches on a very important subject of being a future teacher.