There are some individuals who thought that literature such as novels and poems was useless for high school students. I completely disagree with it, because without the contribution of literature, many cultural values cannot be imparted to the students in high school, and the school life would be extremely boring for them.
First of all, literature is important for the growth of students. By learning literature in high school, students have accumulated their knowledge storage of the world and have an open mindset for the future. Because there are plenty of stories in literature that stem from real life, which undoubtedly is the best way for students who have little experience of life to have a deeper understanding compared to learning just from the textbooks. For example, in China, many secondary school students were required to read a number of books usually related to some historical heroes. After reading, they can know the spirits and values these books and stories have presented and practice them in their lives. And this is important for their growth and helps them to become a better person.
On the other hand, learning literature in high school enriches students’ lives. It is widely known for many that school life can be boring, uninteresting, and stressful. Students in high school were not only needed to face countless assignments from their teachers but also needed to tackle lots of complex and difficult new disciplines set for their academic progress. Therefore, literature is valuable for them to have a break during these heavy studying tasks. Not like other subjects, literature can be narrated in a funny and humorous way, which is relaxing and cheerful, and this is a crucial feature that helps students balance their school lives and academic tasks.
In conclusion, I firmly believe that learning literature in high school cannot be a waste of time; instead, it is equally, even more, important for high school students to have literature courses for the cultural values they contain and the enrichment they provide.