How come no one told me how fun it is to read Plato to the kids?!?

[JennifersLost]

My philosophy class in college was soooooo boring. I remember reading this stuff and having my eyes cross. But reading it out loud to a couple of boys who love arguing is so much more fun. The jokes stand out and you really get a sense of how hard it was to be the guy Socrates has pigeon-holed. The boys were laughing out loud at a couple of places and they were awed by Socrates' superior arguing ability.

[Jami]

My Dh (philosophy major) just loves to read Plato. And I admit, it is much more entertaining when he reads aloud to me, not to mention how much better I really get what's being talked about!

Glad your guys are enjoying it with you!

[Sharon H in IL]

Good advice to keep in mind -- the originals are not *beyond* us. Thanks to the blog of someone here (sorry, I cannot remember whose) I bought a copy of Ovid's Metamorphoses, in a translation she recommended, and started reading it to the boys.

And you know what? It's not over their heads. It's interesting. We just began, and read the creation story. Very similar to the biblical. I'm thrilled to have the resources we do in this society to reach so far back to access the great minds of the past.

[In The Great White North]

I was similarly unenthused in college.

What dialogue would be funniest, most interesting, etc to dd(11)?

[Jean in Newcastle]

I think it is that way with a lot of things. A classroom, with a long syllabus of reading materials to read late at night, just isn't conducive to really bonding with the classics! That is great that you are having a good experience with your kids!