The View from Darien

<p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(17 17 17 1)>Drawing on current curriculum the work and research of renowned scholars and especially his own teaching experience Gutteridge examines the nature of student classification based on their understanding of literature and its devastating impacts on learning progress throughout the years. Chronicling the negative consequences of assigning such categories to students (instead of designing separate programs for each group-forms of writing and expression more suited to their learning style and stage of development-the general category is often offered watered down academic courses) Gutteridge shares a number of experimental programs that have attempted to offer a few adjustments over the years (Fidler 1969; Dixon 1979; Medway 1980; Holt 1964). He hopes that the student classification based on the study of literature will go away as it patronizes and demeans the student groups. Instead all students will be given equal opportunity to study fine literature. Central to this process is revitalizing a teaching system which incorporates both normal and advanced readers. That way students relative to their ability and learning style will be able to comprehend more complicated texts and learn the moral cultural and psychological pleasures of literature on the way. Insightful and reflective this is another good book from Gutteridge.</span></p><p><br></p>