A colleague of mine often told his classes that his job was not to cater to his students’ current taste but to enhance it through the study of, what those who read extensively have deemed, “great works.”
I used to tell my students that their opinions about books were simply not valid as they had not done enough reading to be able to fairly judge whether a book was “good” or not. Sounds smug, sure...but it’s also accurate (more smugness!)
I just don’t see how instilling a loathing of reading in young people and then lamenting the low information voter makes any sense at all.
I know a guy who had a teacher like that. He is proud of not having read a book since he graduated. And he votes like every other low info voter. I had a great teacher who encouraged reading even though she didn’t care for my choice of Sweet Valley High. Currently reading a biography of Reagan, just finished The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn, which was fascinating.
Just different styles I guess, but I know which one I think was better.