Why aren’t we taught to appreciate literature in our school lives?

“My English teacher comes in, reads the chapter, makes us write some answers, and leaves.”

The Indian Education System makes us rigid individuals and hampers our creativity. An example of the same is reflected in how we are not allowed to use the first person for stating our opinion or how we cannot deviate from the general and widely acceptable paraphrasing of any poem or prose.

Different individuals have different thinking capacities, so doesn’t this mean each and every individual in a classroom should be given a chance to embrace it? The announcement of the New Education Policy (to be implemented in 2022–2023), which advocates a new pedagogical structure, encouraging creativity and holistic development of learners, still provides a glimmer of hope for some sort of improvement in the situation.

But, till the time it is implemented completely, what should the children do? Keep rote-learning answers of literature to get marks in Board Examinations? Will they not get an opportunity to deeply know, understand and appreciate other cultures and beliefs? Will they not get an opportunity to visualize and develop thinking skills?

The important role here is of the teachers and mentors. Changing methods of teaching students to get them truly to admire all the things they read is in their hands. Over the past few decades, there has been a fall in the number of young readers. Teaching the art of appreciation of literature would hopefully bring back the love for reading amongst young individuals.

On a totally related note, here are some websites on which you can read books for free -

• Z-Library. The world’s largest ebook library.
• Welcome to Open Library | Open Library
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• Free eBooks | Project Gutenberg

Happy Reading! :)