Today I learned that Mark Twain's writing is too complex for modern students.

[WelshBloke]

This thread reminds me of watching American TV when someone from England, speaking English is subtitled into English for other English speakers who can't understand spoken English.

 

[Drako]

This thread reminds me of watching American TV when someone from England, speaking English is subtitled into English for other English speakers who can't understand spoken English.

Well, I have to turn on subtitles when I watch Peaky Blinders, whose characters are supposedly speaking English.

 

[zinfamous]

Or like think that their new and improved socialism will work this time. Crazy, amirite?

well, it's proven vastly superior across the world that has successfully implemented it (including in the US), than that mythical supply-side economics nonsense that has only ever proven to be a disaster.

 

[highland145]

well, it's proven vastly superior across the world that has successfully implemented it (including in the US), than that mythical supply-side economics nonsense that has only ever proven to be a disaster.

Shens. I posted a pic of my dollar tree.

 

[Captante]

I've read some of Mark Twain's works and they are not that hard to read.

Tom Sawyer was one of the first "real" books I read... I'd classify it easy-reading!

What a sad commentary.

 

[FeuerFrei]

That's because reading in schools these days is garbage. When I was in school, we read classics. Can't do that anymore, especially if it's stuff written by dead white guys. And yes, that's the case. My two younger kids brought home what they were reading and by-and-large, it was pure dreck. My kids thought so too.



OK, I'll start by echoing what Ironwing stated following your post.



In addition to what I just quoted, my younger daughter and son both complained that all they were reading was simple articles; nothing challenging. And it was a disproportionate amount of women / girl themed stuff - their words, not mine. My kids both thought the material was just preaching at them.

And which state / province might you dwell in? If you don't mind.

 

[JujuFish]

Not me, by any means. But if I'm going to 'unlike' a post, I think it's only fair that I reply with a reason. My second paragraph was sarcasm, which obviously blew right over your head.

That was not an equitable reaction. You were clearly upset.

 

[WelshBloke]

Well, I have to turn on subtitles when I watch Peaky Blinders, whose characters are supposedly speaking English.

I should introduce you to Rab C Nesbitt one day!

 

[FerrelGeek]

And which state / province might you dwell in? If you don't mind.

Ohio. Lived in NE Ohio and now in central Ohio. And no, the schools my kids attended were not little red Amish schoolhouses. They were all highly rated school systems.

 

[FerrelGeek]

That was not an equitable reaction. You were clearly upset.

Annoyed, not really upset. I honestly don't care how red or green my new status bar is, hence my sarcastic paragraph. If someone doesn't like my post, I'm ok with that. Just tell me why. I've actually received high marks in my annual reviews for how well I respond to feedback - good or not so good. I'm way past the point in my life where I live and die by what people think of me and I wasn't raised like the millennials where they freak if you look at them cross-eyed. If you don't like something I post, let me have it. I'm a big boy; I can take it.

 

[purbeast0]

I'm not much of a reader and haven't read a book since highschool, and always struggled in the English side of things through school but thrived on the Math side of things. I definitely find the 'translated' text easier to read and follow.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I dunno, when I was younger I just felt like it was written in the way words were used then. It's definitely different.

 

[FerrelGeek]

I dunno, when I was younger I just felt like it was written in the way words were used then. It's definitely different.

Yep. Exactly that.

Twain never gave me problems or what little I've read of Dickens. Now when it comes to Shakespeare, I won't give anyone grief for reading an updated translation.