Tolkien in school?

[The Saucepan Man]

Some people state that LotR is too long and tough for most kids, (say 12 and younger). While that may be true for a relative few, I am shocked by this.

I agree. When I was 13 or so, we had to read Great Expectations by Dickens over the school holiday, which is much the same length as LotR. Not all books will be to every student's taste. I was not taken by Dickens (a favourite of the school syllabus) at all, but I remember enjoying immensely books such as 1984, Brave New World, A Farewell to Arms and Wuthering Heights.

So, I don't think the fact that LotR may not be every student's cup of tea should prevent it being on the syllabus. Surely, LotR is stimulating enough to merit a place, quite apart form it being an accomplished work of literature?