I think my home state has a darned good idea with this! I enjoy science fiction myself (old style Trekkie here!) and think it can be very mind-expanding. Go, mountaineers!
A bill calling for science fiction to be made compulsory reading in schools has been proposed by a politician in West Virginia in order to “stimulate interest in the fields of math and science”.
Ray Canterbury, a Republican delegate, is appealing to the West Virginia board of education to include science fiction novels on the middle school and high school curriculums. “The Legislature finds that promoting interest in and appreciation for the study of math and science among students is critical to preparing students to compete in the workforce and to assure the economic well being of the state and the nation,” he writes in the pending bill.
“To stimulate interest in math and science among students in the public schools of this state, the State Board of Education shall prescribe minimum standards by which samples of grade-appropriate science fiction literature are integrated into the curriculum of existing reading, literature or other required courses for middle school and high school students.”
via Bill for compulsory science fiction in West Virginia schools | Books | guardian.co.uk.
I agree, I got my son reading alot with Star Wars! I didn’t care for it, but my husband loved it. I always read to my children and they had lots of books growing up. But my son had every used Star Wars paperback book there was. Whatever it takes to get kids reading! My son and his wife are avid readers. He did stop reading for pleasure during college and law school. I hope it passes!
Ellen, I can sympathize with your son’s lack of time for pleasure-reading in law school. I’m sure he’ll go back to it as soon as he gets past all those law cases. I’m with you: any book is a good one if it makes children read. That’s why I’m a fan of Harry Potter and the Twilight series. Those even got a lot of adults reading!