Their classes may not start until August 22, but San Benito High
School students taking advanced English already have their first
homework assignment.
Hollister – Their classes may not start until August 22, but San Benito High School students taking advanced English already have their first homework assignment.
Incoming freshmen enrolled in English 9A have to read two novels, create plot charts and prepare for projects, essays or tests on the first day of school next month, according to English Department Chairwomen Kristi Britton.
Even so, students participating in the advanced English program had far less homework this summer than in previous years, Britton said. In past years, students had to pick ten quotes from each novel and write one page about each quote.
The summer reading program was modified this year in order to encourage students to read for pleasure, without the burden of an intensive project. Freshmen have the choice of two novels from a list of six created by an English Department committee.
“We chose books that will both challenge and interest students,” Britton said. “The main point of the program is to keep students reading during the summer.”
Incoming freshmen Courtney Cabrera wished the selection of books students had to choose from would have been wider, but she said the program was beneficial.
“It was really easy and it gave me a chance to read books I probably wouldn’t have read otherwise,” Cabrera said.
One of the freshmen level books, “Fallen Angels,” by Walter Dean Myers, drew criticism from a concerned parent at the district’s Board of Trustees meeting last week, Principal Debbie Padilla said. The novel, which is centered on the Vietnam War, contains profanity. The reading list, which was sent to students and parents, specifically stated that the book contained “strong language.”
Britton said the profanity makes the book realistic because such language was used on the battlefields during the war.
“Fallen Angels” is No. 2 on the American Library Association’s list of the most frequently complained about books for 2004, second only to “The Chocolate War” by Robert Cormier. The ALA has recorded hundreds of attempts to ban classic novels including, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain and “Of Mice and Men,” by John Steinbeck.
“Most good books have been banned,” Britton said.
Sophomores, juniors and seniors also have reading this summer. Sophomores have to read two novels selected from a list of four: “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley; “The Natural” by Bernard Malamud; “Rebecca” by Daphne Du Maurier and “The Once and Future King” by T.H. White.
Huxley’s “Brave New World” came in at No. 51 on the ALA’s list of most complained about novels for the last decade. Huxley’s dystopian novel is also ranked among the top 100 novels of the century by panelists from national publishers The Modern Library (No. 5), a branch of Random House, and Radcliff Publishing Course (No. 16).
Juniors are required to read two novels, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain and “The Grapes of Wrath,” by John Steinbeck. Steinbeck’s novel was ranked No. 10 by The Modern Library and No. 3 by Radcliff Publishing Course.
Seniors will be reading Herman Melville’s “Billy Budd” and seven books of the Bible, including the four gospels of the New Testiment.
Senior Wesley Salazar will be taking four advanced placement classes next fall, which also require summer work, and has not yet started her summer reading. Salazar has participated in the program for the last three years and knows she still has ample time to complete the project before August 22.
“I haven’t started yet, I’m a little behind right now,” Salazar said.
Summer reading assignments have helped Salazar and other students to maintain good study patterns during the summer.
“A lot of kids don’t read at home, but it’s a good habit to get into,” Salazar said.
Since the program has been so successful the school will expand the program to include all high school students, not just those in advanced English classes.
“Next year all students will have summer reading,” Britton said.
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
