Schooled Literacy

      In Rick Evans piece, "Schooled Literacy", he informs the audience with experiences from students pertaining to their reading and writing classes through out their years of formal education. What is taught in these classes is considered to be schooled literacy. I believe that the meaning refers to the specific ways the students are taught to learn how to read and write. However, Rick Evans seems to disagree. To him, the concept of schooled literacy is the way that school makes you think literacy is suppose to be. Since he shares stories of students who believe that this is true, he creates the main point that reflects back on the actual importance of literacy in and out of the classroom.
     In regard to educators, good reading is seen as the type that is done in school or about school. To the students benefit, this reading pertains to factual information or assets that need to be learned in that class. Although, many students seem to disagree because this type of reading, in school, only seems forced and is often boring. The students who feel this way admit to enjoying reading when it wasn't just something that they had to do in order to get a good grade. Even though the reading is boring, they do it only for the reward of a good letter grade. Then, they base their selves as readers off of that grade. In the same aspect, the idea of good writing is very similar. To students, they base whether or not they are a good writer off of the grade they receive in class. They had also admitted that writing, as well as reading, was more enjoyable when they only did it for fun, personal reasons. Now that they have been judged by their ability and forced to write in school, the enjoyment is no longer there for them, and their work is only good if they receive a good grade.
    The problem with the ideas about good reading and good writing is that every one has different level abilities. Some students were judged on their abilities at such a young age that they would  rather avoid the literacy route of education. One student said that his teacher would judge his handwriting, saying it was too sloppy and slanted. This makes kids feel like they are not good enough to follow through with the lessons. Teachers base good reading and good writing only on the educational aspect of it. Just because someone is not good with that because they feel forced, does not mean they arent good at any reading or writing in general. Most students said they enjoyed both literacy activities before it was forced and only school related material.
    According to Evans, it is true that students change their outlook on literacy when exposed to school. Most become uninterested because they now feel like the only reason they are doing it is because of the grade they need to receive. It is no longer exciting or necessary to read/write outside of school for a lot of the students. They feel as if the only important kind of literacy is the kind taught in the classroom because pleasing the teacher is now their main goal.
 In regards to "Schooled Literacy", I believe my experience is very similar. I agree with Evans findings because I also was more into reading/writing when it was for fun, entertaining purposes. Now that I am in college, the only reading and writing I do is for my classes. Sometimes the stories can be interesting, but at the end of the day the most important thing to me is the grade that I receive.