I blame it, not on the books of high school English courses, but on the very teachers who themselves either could not offer a decent understanding of the book, or chose not to offer an interpretation.

I find it ironic that you’re extremely sensitive to kids reading the same books you read, when you think the value is in teachers pushing kids to read for applicable critiques, not what books are actually read.

I also find it interesting that you “hated literature”, until you read something you loved. Most kids don’t love really dated classics (Homer). Most kids won’t even read it. There’s so much context missing, words that aren’t used anymore and archaic, that it’s almost more history than anything. Why not put relatable books in front of kids that they’ll actually read, and push for meaning from there?