The importance of reading cannot be overstated; novels and poems can help to push students to further their knowledge, their vocabulary, and develop their understanding of humanity and culture. English books and texts provided by Hingham High School strongly support this theme by having an intricate series of books for each grade level to read that are comprised of not only well-known classics, but texts that can also help to broaden their views on events and historical parallels as well as expand their thinking about cultures and creativity. Each grade level, freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior, has their own series of novels to read throughout their school year that beautifully align with their history course.
While in 9th grade, students take World History I and read books that align with that timeline such as the classic text the Odyssey by Homer, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakepeare, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and William Golding’s Lord Of The Flies. As a sophomore the World History course continues into level II as well as continuing world literature and reading novels such as The Merchant Of Venice by William Shakespeare, 1984 and Animal Farm by George Orwell, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, and Night by Elie Wiesel. However, in junior year the focus shifts to American History and American literature. Leading them to read books written by American authors such as The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, and The Narrative of Fredrick Douglass by Fredrick Douglass. Once junior year is completed, Seniors have a choice on what history they would like to study as well as selecting an English class that may or may not align with that subject. Most senior students read books such as The Awakening by Kate Chopin, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, Hamlet by William Shakespeare, and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. These series of novels have proven to give students an effective and enlightening literary education, with authors from all around the world and texts with various different plots and themes. But, the real question is, what do the students and teachers think of these books?
To start, Ms. Roth, an HHS English teacher of 25 years, states, “The English department selects texts that invoke contemplation, and constantly reflects on what texts are the best to teach our students. We want them to become life-long readings and to help them to become critical thinkers.” Furthermore, the freshmen Jayla Dressler expresses her ideas on the 9th grade English books as, “The Odyssey is my favorite book that we have read so far, because I enjoyed reading all the different myths and thought they were interesting on how they connect back to the present day.”. To add, Izzy McGarr, a junior at Hingham High, loves the books she has been reading throughout her school year, saying “The Great Gatsby is a really good book, I like how it incorporates some history as well as some fiction. It includes ideas about the prohibition. Overall I have greatly enjoyed reading the books for junior year English.” Additionally, HHS senior, Annika Larsen says, “I am in the Global Disability Voices class. We are reading So Lucky, which examines how influencers are insensitive to people with disabilities. I love the book and class because it gives different, unseen perspectives of influencers and people with disabilities.”
Overall, Hingham High School Students have loved their english class books and short stories, and have taken a lot of influence from them!
