I have given the matter a little bit more thought. What is uppermost in my mind is my grandmother's bookshelf (father's mother). I know that she and her sisters graduated from high school, which was not a common thing in Biloxi, Mississippi, in about 1917 or 1918. My mother's mother did not, I think she finished eighth grade. She had some books on her bookshelf, I don't know whether they were my father's textbooks, or hers, but they were aimed at high school students. I think some of the things would be considered oldies and moldies today, but some of the things I can't imagine children today not having read.
The Declaration of Independence.
Patrick Henry's speech ("Give me liberty or give me death.")
Washington's farewell speech.
The Gettysburg Address.
Some of the Greek myths.
Some of the Norse myths.
Something about Rome. I really liked the story of Cornelia's jewels, and the story about the man who only wanted to be a farmer (can't remember his name).
Some, at least, of Chaucer.
Something by Shakespeare, maybe from Hamlet or Macbeth. "Friends, Romans and countrymen."
Something by Dickens. "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done."
Something by Mark Twain, say, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Caleveras County?
I know this is biased, but I really believe that every student in American should have read the things on the list before he/she graduates from high school. |
