Who Should Decide What Students Read?
Dane Peters argues that students should have choice over what they read for school assignments and that even literature considered “inferior”, e.g., Gossip Girls, can be the basis for deep discussion and improved understanding. Students differ, therefore, the author advocates combining phonics and whole-language techniques and for avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. “Let young people decide what they should read based on where they are in their intellectual development and maturity. It’s the best way to keep them reading.”