James Bantugan

AP English 12
23 August 2016

Why Study Literature and 7 Sins of our

Education System
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Since the creation of writing in early civilizations, literature has been one of the most
fundamental forms of the expression of ideas through language. In this article, the author
argues that literature is worth learning through eight theses that tend to overlap with each other
in which can be summarized in three broad points. The initial point introduced is that literature
describes the meaning of human experience, in which the reader gets a sense of the nature of
humanity and reality through perceptions and exquisite language. For example, as stated in
thesis seven, it allows the reader to experience a social role akin or different to ones own in
reality, thus building an understanding of the perceptual views of someone else. Second,
literature bolsters the growth of imagination and creativity as well as an open mind to analysis
and self reflection. This is somewhat similar to the first point in terms of personal contemplation
except that it can expand to the concept of possible worlds. In this case, human nature and the
functions of the natural world are developed, using creativity, into a new entity commonly known
as fiction. Third, literature defines the identity of a society through the use of formal language,
expression of cultural values, and the interpretation of multiple views on ideas and beliefs of the
civilization the author belongs to. As the author mentioned in thesis eight, literature could be
used as a way to express ones societal values or to integrate the cultural dominance of the
elite. In all, this speculation of the authors eight theses is sufficient to arguing the importance of
learning and understanding literature.
Peter Grays interpretation of the public school system is obviously controversial yet
accurate in his blog about seven deadly sins in the system. Some of his statements seem true
to a certain extend but do contain, however, a few logical fallacies. Beginning in his introduction,
Grey blatantly states that school is and is felt by students as a prison. Children entering this
building end up learning the same thing and contemplate why its mandatory to learn it and how
it is useful in the future. Grey continues on to his first sin stating that the school system is
denying the liberty of children due to their age. He makes the connection that if an adult is
incarcerated, they must be proven in a court of law that they are guilty of a crime yet children
are being treated the same way because of their age. This is a shallow statement because
although many kids may view their education like this, its required by law to attend school
because they are minors and havent obtained and developed the knowledge and thinking that
school and later life experiences would teach. The second sin is that the system creates shame
or arrogance. This is true to a certain extent that children who find difficulty end up quitting or
dropping out of school and those who succeed were able to score high grades which create
arrogance. The next sin, which is probably the most illogical one, states that the ranking/grading

system segregates children by their performance on tests and age. Grey makes the statement
that Helping others is considered cheating and may even hurt the helper in return. Then he
continues with a statement about early human history in which children were able to learn from
the help of older children compared to today in which its being neglected. In response to these
statements, there is a segregation of age in school because there are certain topics that
younger children cant fully comprehend. For example, is it possible for a fourth grader to
understand seventh grade world history or eighth grade algebra? There is a chance that at least
one student might understand but for the rest of the student population, not at all. Second,
children of all ages do help each other out in what is known as tutoring. Moving on the the fourth
sin, Grey talks about how school interferes with a childs biological development of learning and
that it shouldnt be the only factor of learning. A child just doesnt learn everything in school.
Other factors that contribute to their education is through natural observations and activities in
this world and the guidance of the parents. Also, saying that school failed me when your life
isnt going as planned means that either you didnt take responsibility for your actions up to
adulthood or something terribly wrong happened. Many times, if would be the former because
success would follow after experiencing and learning from past mistakes. The fifth sin states
that school generates anxiety and that if its viewed like that by children, they wont be motivated
to work at all. This statement is wholly true because children should be in a state of tranquility to
be able to learn something and not to worry about their grade. The sixth sin states that the
system makes most students reduce critical thinking and makes them avoid thinking too hard
instead of figuring out how to get a good grade. This statement is also true. The seventh and
final sin states that the standard curriculum reduces alternate paths for the future of the child
saying, In this day and age, nobody can learn more than a sliver than what is know so why
force everyone to learn that sliver? In general, hes saying students under the standard
curriculum dont have much time to pursue their interests. In contrast to this statement, high
school students actually have the opportunity and choice of which classes they want to take. For
example, in this school, there is an adequate amount of room for extra elective classes or more
specific classes pertaining to a certain subject of interest. If a student wanted to become a
doctor one day, the school would offer the student certain classes such as biology, chemistry
and anatomy and in different levels of difficulty depending on whether the student can achieve
the standards of that class. Unless he is referring to elementary students alone, it would make
sense that its mandatory for all students to learn the same thing. However, what they will learn
in their early education is the foundation for higher levels of learning in high school and college.
In some parts of what Peter Gray says in his Seven Sins of the School System is false to a
certain extent. However, there were a few true statements that were reasonable and true to
todays contemporary school system.
Self assess. Fill out the chart prior to submitting your work for feedback:
Comments: Student
Concerns
(Evidence criteria/standards (Improve or
met)
Remediate)
1-2
Analyzed every argument

Criteria
(Proficient)
CCSS standard &
Description of mastery

Advanced
Exceeded
Standard
3-4

Standard/Criteria 1

Comments: Teacher

and took textual evidence

as well as inferred evidence
to validate whether the
arguments were true,
somewhat true/false or
false.

I cited a few evidence from

the text to support or
challenge Grays claims.
Used a sufficient amount of
logic to support analysis of
arguments.

I carefully looked through

each of Grays seven claims
about the current school
system and provided
sufficient evidence and
inferences to back up my
arguments.
I drew a sufficient amount of
evidence from the text to
support analysis of each
argument.

RL1: Read closely what

the text says explicitly &
to make logical
inferences from it; cite
specific textual evidence
when writing or speaking
to support conclusions
drawn from the text.
Standard/Criteria 2

RL8:Delineate and
evaluate the argument
and specific claims in a
text, including the validity
of the reasoning as well
as the relevance and
sufficiency of the
evidence.
Standard/Criteria 3

W1: Write arguments to

support claims in an
analysis of substantive
topics or texts using valid
reasoning and relevant
and sufficient evidence.
Standard/Criteria 4
Draw evidence from literary
or informational texts to
support analysis, reflection,
and research.

A student who earns a 4 goes beyond what was taught. A student who earns a 3 demonstrates a strong knowledge
of what is explicitly taught. A student who earns a 2 shows a grasp of the simpler concepts and may have errors or
omissions when it comes to the more complex concepts taught. A student who earns a 1 only demonstrates a partial
understanding of simpler concepts taught (Marzano 2006).