The Force Of A Classic by Fiza Pathan
Nothing works best as a classic to stimulate
the mind of a student & to help the individual to achieve his or her
highest capabilities. However, we as parents, teachers & educationists
should not in a way ‘force’ the profitable habit of reading on a child. We must
realize that, just the way we as adults do not like our government or any other
powerful body to push something down our throat which we do not wish to be a
part of in anyway, for children….we are their ‘governments’ & they to have
the right not to be forced into any habit without their own choice taken into consideration.
Well then if such is the case, how is one then going to ignite the flame of
studiousness & how can one cultivate the habit of reading in the mind of
the child???.........the answer however complicated it may seem is infact,
quite easy.
Reading good classics & good literature
should be tackled from another angle where
the students of the 21st
century are concerned. If one actually goes on the internet & checks out
the books written for children these days, one will realize that the numbers
are NUMEROUS starting from normal adventure fiction, light humour, horror,
vampire fiction, fantasy literature, hard core fantasy literature & so on;
the children of today have got a variety in contemporary literature to choose
from, so how can one divert their attention to the classic section of the library?
There are many ways one can do this according
to me which I myself as a teacher have subtly tried out successfully with my
students.
One way is to get to know the interests of
one’s child & try to develop on it positively…..& on the way, suggest a
classic to read. Example: if the student has a fondness for horse riding, the
classic ‘Black Beauty’ by Anna Sewell can be suggested to the student or if the
child is into science fiction then along with other techniques to develop the
child’s interest, a classic like the ‘Time Machine’ by H.G.Wells can be used to
develop the interest of the pupil in classic science fiction. Another way to
interest the child in reading classics is to let the student accidentally stumble
upon the book, maybe at the school house, in his or her room, on the dining
table etc. Curiosity being the overriding emotion in every child will stimulate
the child to ask questions about the book:
- · What is this story all about?
- · When was it written?
- · Did you read it?
- · How did you like it?
- · Tell me more about the content of the story?
The questions can go on & subtly, without
the merest hint of suggestion; the pupil will come to learn about a classic
from his favourite adult, be it a middle school teacher, a grandmother or even
a librarian. Another way to introduce a classic to a child sans force could be
through the medium of audio-visual media. I’ve often used this technique at my
tuition classes with my students where I show them a clipping about a classic
in the form of a video, power-point presentation, slides etc., & then out
of sheer curiosity, they go ahead & read the classic. I’ve also noticed
that classics like:
- · The Count Of Monte Cristo
- · Oliver Twist
- · Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes
- · David Copperfield
- · Dracula
- · Frankenstein
- · Hound Of The Baskervilles
etc., have a great appeal to first timers
with classics.
However, whatever one must do, one must never
force a classic onto a child. Just like we engage a new born baby into the
world, we need in a slow step by step process, stimulate our pupils into the
habit of reading good literature which will help them moralistically,
intellectually & culturally.
Copyright © 2013 by Fiza Pathan
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