Re: Latin, Shakespeare, and other irrelevant topics

[Buz Cory <weltseer@BuzCo.PenguiPowered.com>]

On 1/27/01, 7:08:58 PM, Robert Dewar <robert_dewar@my-deja.com> wrote 
regarding Re: Latin, Shakespeare, and other irrelevant topics:

> In article
> <Pine.BSF.4.21.0101262056580.20133-100000@shell5.ba.best.com>,
>   Brian Rogoff <bpr@shell5.ba.best.com> wrote:
> > like being forced to read Shakespeare.

> It's a shame to see an attitude like this. Anyone not able to
> appreciate Shakespeare is missing something pretty important
> in life

Certainly, but forcing children to read Shakespeare without ever 
seeing a performance nor adequate instruction in reading and 
understanding stage directions can be pure torture.

Children should be exposed to performances of such things as 
"Midsummer Night's Dream". Things like "Taming of the Shrew" and 
"Romeo and Juliet", much less "Hamlet" should not be read or watched 
until the late teens or later. We were forced to read Shakespeare when 
I was about 12! And with no prior experience reading plays.

> (the technical junk we all spend so much time with
> is not an adequate substitute :-)

Agreed, but forcing children to read Shakespeare early makes it less 
likely, not more, that that person will ever learn to read him with 
understanding and enjoyment.

== Buz :)