Unbelievably, Federal Way Public Schools seems poised to ban the long-standing tradition of teaching novels in many of their secondary English classrooms. Here’s how it could happen: Federal Way Public Schools is considering adopting either the Collections secondary English curriculum — a curriculum made up completely of short collections of texts — or Inquiry by Design, a curriculum with a single novel in four years.

Many of the texts and the materials in these curricula are excellent and adopting either one wouldn’t be a problem if it weren’t for the district’s expectation that teachers teach exclusively using these materials. If teachers are required to use only short collections of text, the district has effectively banned the teaching of complete books and novels.

But why would they do such a thing? This is a classic case of teaching to the test. Students face difficult tests based on the high standards of the Common Core. These tests use short texts and selected excerpts to measure how well students have met the high standards — it would be unrealistic to do otherwise (you can’t, after all, ask a student to read a book during a standardized test). The best way to master the reading of short texts as the test requires, is to practice with many short texts — to teach to the test.

Everyone wants students to be able to read short texts effectively and to do well on these difficult tests. And while striving to meet the standards is laudable, it isn’t enough and it will shortchange students in the Federal Way Public Schools. Students can certainly read books on their own and some of the materials being considered by the district thankfully encourage this. But, without some guided use of novels in English classrooms, students might not learn what it means to work with longer pieces of literature.

People who study literacy development suggest that reading a novel requires different mental skills than reading an excerpt. If these skills are not taught and practiced, they won’t develop. Students need such skills as they move to college and into the work force. In this case, meeting the standards isn’t enough.

Adopting excellent materials is important. Equally important is trusting Federal Way’s excellent English teachers to help students meet and exceed the Common Core State Standards. Teachers should use the adopted curriculum, and they should not be limited by it. Teachers must be given the freedom and responsibility to teach appropriate and challenging books to secondary students. Our students’ futures depend on it.

Terry Beck is a University of Puget Sound professor and former teacher and principal of Federal Way Public Schools.