by Melissa Fajardo ’13

Many school boards believe non-fiction is the key to a successful career because it serves as a good model for the reading and writing that are imperative in the work force. Maryland is in the process of revamping the curriculum to expose its students to more non-fiction texts, and MCPS is already taking steps to reflect this change by ushering in a brand new English 9 curriculum. In 2010, the Maryland School Board formally adopted the Common Core State Standards. This initiative, also adopted by 45 other states, is designed to develop the skills young people will actually be using in the future to compete in the global economy.

This curriculum would be incorporated across all subjects, giving students a diet enriched with history and science. In particular, the Common Core states that students will progressively attribute their reading time to historical documents, scientific tracts, maps and other informational texts. The standards recommend students read 70 percent non-fiction in all their classes—not just English—by 12th grade.

Opponents, including some English teachers, believe that great literature can still give students the critical thinking and writing skills they need. But proponents attest that more experience with non-fiction will prepare students for texts that will more likely be seen on the work desk. In a recent article in The New York Times, David Coleman, president of the College Board said, “It is rare in a working environment that someone said, ‘Johnson, I need a market analysis by Friday but before that I need a compelling account of your childhood.’”