h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Reading In Class - A1077798
Author: Flying Betty - U186743

I spent too much time in high school doing exactly this to not dust this entry off from the Flea Market.

it doesnt work! the onyl detention i ever gotn was doing exactly this. your head is looking down, and you are intent on soemthing. this strikes alarm bells in the minds of all but the dullest of teachers

That stinks!

It helps if the teachers know you're a good student, and if you pay enough attention to not be completely intent on your own book.

Another solution to wanting to spend more time reading is to do it at times when other people don't consider it - eg while walking along, while stopped at traffic lights (assuming you are the driver not passenger), or even in slow moving traffic (though this can not be openly recommended ), while having a shower (a little tricky), while eating (supposed to be good for the digestion).

If you have a lengthy regular walk I can confirm reading is perfectly easy, using peripheral vision to notice approaching obstacles - the only thing you tend to miss are low hanging branches.

When I first picked this entry i thought it was going to be about authorised reading - having to read aloud etc. - possibly add the word 'Illicit' to the start of the title to clear up that ambiguity.

Pimms

"The problem with schools encouraging students to read is that they never encourage you to read anything that you would really want to read on your own."

Maybe you need an 'almost' in this sentence, as I have often (when I was in junior school etc) been allowed to choose the books I wanted to read...

Yup, only time I ever got caned at school was for this misdemeanour!

The title you've chosen doesn't suggest a misdemeanor at all. It should be changed to reflect that what's being read is totally irrelevant to the class . . .

2/3

This is a good point. It started as the original title and I guess I never got around to thinking of a better one.

And come to think of it, I did have a few courses that let me choose books. Hmm, I'll have to do a bit of tweaking, to make sure the whole article reflects its subject.

Have you tweaked yet?

There, tweaked

Pimms, I used some of your suggestions so you're listed on it too.

You mention a referral as punishment for getting caught. Whats a referral?

2/3

Rats, I figured it was some British thing that I didn't know about and left it in since the original author had it there.

Can anyone else help me out here?

I remember this article from years ago. I think i commented on the use of the word referal then. Different schools call them different things, but basically a referal is usually a slip of paper that a teacher fills in and it goes in your file, to your tutor, etc. My school used to call them Sanctions but then changed the name to referals. I don't think it adds anything to the article, prehaps you could get rid of the entire section...

Tango

I've just noticed my author credit. I had to check the entry again to ensure I had actually contributed something.

Do you think the 'advanced study' section is in keeping with the focus of the entry? I don't mind losing the credit if you want to keep the focus on illicit surreptitious reading. If you are widening the scope to answer the question of how to fit more reading into your day you may wish to amend the title to reflect this.

Pimms

However I have to say the entry reads fine as it is to me Good progression of points, well set out.

Pimms

Are you still here, betty?

Betty's around - last posted 17 hours ago.

I'm here, I'm here, you can call off the search party!

I just haven't really touched the article in a while; schoolwork sort of creeps up on you when your back is turned, and then you have to do silly things like not hang around online all the time. You understand, right?

Hi again, Betty,

Let us know what you intend doing with this entry.

Oh bah, wander off for a few days and I get a comment! And miss it in the backlog.

So yes, I promise to clean this thing up one of these days! Either after exams (less than a week!) or while not studying. Thanks for the friendly reminders, though.