Does the Canon Need an Overhaul? Introduction “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” - Dr. Seuss Reading is one of the great pleasures in life. Seuss, concisely and in rhyme, summarized its importance, reading opens your mind beyond yourself, broadens your knowledge and your understanding of the world. Educators are often tasked with selecting literature to use in their classrooms which meet state guidelines, while engaging students in meaningful ways. Many do this by selecting works from a commonly accepted list known as a literary canon. Generations of students have read literary canon works as part of their required curriculum. Jordan Bates defines literary canon as “a body of books, narratives and other texts considered to be the most important and influential of a particular time, period, or place”. The subject of the literary canon is a polarizing topic amo...
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