Is studying non-fiction the way to improve education standards?
There is no more troubling fact about US education than this:
The reading scores of 17-year-olds have shown no significant
improvement since 1980. The new Common Core State Standards in
46 states and the District of Columbia are designed to solve
that problem. Among other things, students are being asked to
read more nonfiction, considered by many experts to be the key
to success in college or the workplace. The Common Core
standards are one of our hottest trends. Virginia declined to
participate but was ignored in the rush of good feeling about
the new reform. Now, the period of happy news conferences is
over, and teachers have to make big changes. That never goes
well. Expect battles, particularly in this educationally
hypersensitive region. Teaching more nonfiction will be a key
issue. Many English teachers don't think it will do any good.
Even if it were a good idea, they say, those who have to make
the change have not had enough training to