For many years, most school districts had their own select reading list of books for students, and there were seldom any selections added. These classics were offered up as serious books young people should want to read, but many of them found the subject matter or the writing uninteresting. Modern educators have found children are more willing to read if they are allowed a wider selection, so they have begun to add choices to the list.
When students are forced to read a book for homework and write a report, the goal is to measure their reading comprehension and ability to express their knowledge to others. This is an important goal for assessing their abilities, but it should not lead to a child choosing to never read again. A more thoughtful look at the works available by teachers and administrators might be able to provide a better list of interesting reading that will spur students to continue to read for pleasure.
