Literature in the Dutch classroom - at an up and coming  young Montessori high school. class 4 Havo

It's a mixed bag and a small group. About half the kids have been with us from day 1 ( a mere 4 years)The rest are recent import- who have not left their former schools without cause. some are just 'too cool for the school' and find much of the stuff ( shakespeare, poetry, reading...) just mind-deadeningly dull.

So what was I thinking when I decided to read Swift's "A Modest Proposal' ?! even with rigorous editing it was a no-brainer.and basically too hard.

I rounded off the lesson with a summary of the issues Swift had been addressing and sent them to the computer to compare the social message with Obama's promises as set out in his 'address to the nation' - which was one day fresh on the news.

We're moving on to modern lit and I would enjoy reading ( low maintenance)  success stories. I feel like I want to have a Hobbit's birthday- giving these kids something valuable- from me to them, enjoying and understanding good writing- great stories, beautiful use of language.

too much to ask?

I hope I don't get myself snowed under with all the lower-class grammar lessons and neglect this.