The Department Of Education in New South Wales have a budget of more than 8 million dollars, controlling over 2240 schools, and almost 1 million students enrolled in NSW, they have a lot of power, no doubt. There is a lot of debate about the curriculum in schools, what should and shouldn’t be taught. One thing that I think they’re definitely getting right is the encouragement of the study of Shakespeare.
But is this subject really relevant to today’s society? Does his work stand the test of time? Should children really be studying poetry written more than 400 years ago? The answer is a plain yes to all of them.
Shakespeare's works are most definitely relevant today. His portraits of the human soul make you realise that people are the same after 400 years. The way he writes about human emotions such as anger, love, jealousy, betrayal, jubilation talks directly you.
Shakespeare wrote so much and about so many different things, there is something for everybody. He writes about life from so many perspectives: comedic, dramatic or romantic. His stories include war, religious conflict, racial prejudice, class division, love, death, and betrayal.
Listen to these words from Macbeth
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing
Some people say that Shakespeare’s wording is silly. They complain that he writes the pieces in a cryptic way, making it a chore to read it, and his verses a longer than they need to be. In fact, his original audiences had no trouble understanding his plays. They were for common enjoyment of everybody, like going to a movie for us today.
For us now his work takes more time and effort to understand. We read it in a way that slows us down so we have to think slowly, allowing us to appreciate every word, every idea.
TS Eliot once said that “Shakespeare’s primitiveness is what made him truly modern”.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Reading or TV by seth gabrielsson
Reading or TV.
This idiotic, worldwide addiction has been in our world for many years now. This outrageous household object has been rotting children’s minds every day. I’m talking about television.
Television should not be allowed in houses. Because of tv people are getting fatter, the environment is geting worse, children's imaginations are unfortunately becoming miniscule, and viewers money is becoming wasted.
Scarily Australia is the fattest country in the world, no debate. Imagine if all the time you've wasted on TV and think if you spent those hours playing, and doing exercise. No doubt you would be the extremely fit. No doubt you would be healthier and happier. Unfortunately many kids these days come home, finish their homework and then sit for hours infront of the tv. If you are worrying about your weight at the moment then simply dont watch TV. Swap the screen for fun activities which involve movement and exercise.
It is a chilling thought that so much electricity is used just for entertainment. The environment suffers every time you press the ‘on’ button. Species are lost, trees are cut down, forests are being demolished for electricity. You easily help by just not buying a television! Humans are damaging the planet, only to watch television, and the planet is our home. Ask yourself, would you ruin your home for tv?
Books are wonderful things, it lets you use your mind and imagination. there is no moving pictures, no talking people, its all in your head. Books make you smarter, more knowledgeable of the world, and actually books help your spelling, and vocabulary. the best writers in the world dont watch tv, they‘re reading enthusiasts. Writers are smarter, and have a much wider vocabulary to people who watch tv all the time.
My last point is the fact that your money is being wasted. Your money that you’ve earned is buying endless DVD’s, countless tv show series, bigger and more expensive tv’s, dvd player’s, game consoles, and soon your electricity bill will scarily be more than double the person that doesn't own a tv.
So next time you think of watching TV, could you be doing something better? No doubt if you think this every time you will be smarter, fitter, more imaginative, and of course richer.
This idiotic, worldwide addiction has been in our world for many years now. This outrageous household object has been rotting children’s minds every day. I’m talking about television.
Television should not be allowed in houses. Because of tv people are getting fatter, the environment is geting worse, children's imaginations are unfortunately becoming miniscule, and viewers money is becoming wasted.
Scarily Australia is the fattest country in the world, no debate. Imagine if all the time you've wasted on TV and think if you spent those hours playing, and doing exercise. No doubt you would be the extremely fit. No doubt you would be healthier and happier. Unfortunately many kids these days come home, finish their homework and then sit for hours infront of the tv. If you are worrying about your weight at the moment then simply dont watch TV. Swap the screen for fun activities which involve movement and exercise.
It is a chilling thought that so much electricity is used just for entertainment. The environment suffers every time you press the ‘on’ button. Species are lost, trees are cut down, forests are being demolished for electricity. You easily help by just not buying a television! Humans are damaging the planet, only to watch television, and the planet is our home. Ask yourself, would you ruin your home for tv?
Books are wonderful things, it lets you use your mind and imagination. there is no moving pictures, no talking people, its all in your head. Books make you smarter, more knowledgeable of the world, and actually books help your spelling, and vocabulary. the best writers in the world dont watch tv, they‘re reading enthusiasts. Writers are smarter, and have a much wider vocabulary to people who watch tv all the time.
My last point is the fact that your money is being wasted. Your money that you’ve earned is buying endless DVD’s, countless tv show series, bigger and more expensive tv’s, dvd player’s, game consoles, and soon your electricity bill will scarily be more than double the person that doesn't own a tv.
So next time you think of watching TV, could you be doing something better? No doubt if you think this every time you will be smarter, fitter, more imaginative, and of course richer.
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