Best of the Spectator cover image

Spectator Out Loud: Philip Womack, Ian Thomson, Silkie Carlo, Francis Young and Rory Sutherland

Best of the Spectator

ADVICE

Resist Student Reading List Complaints

Summary: Resist the urge to reduce reading lists for university students. Learning challenging material builds valuable life skills, and students may not yet understand the long-term benefits of a rigorous education.

Insights:

  • Giving in to student complaints about difficult reading only leads to more demands.
  • Students might not know what they want or need from their education, and educators should guide them towards valuable, potentially challenging material.
  • Graduates frequently express regret for not fully embracing available learning opportunities, not for being challenged.

Proper Nouns:

  • Harry Potter: Used as an example of potentially 'too much' reading, highlighting the absurdity of reducing complex texts to overly simplified versions.
  • TikTok: Referenced as potentially contributing to reduced concentration spans, linking broader cultural trends to educational challenges.
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