Agree with you wholeheartedly and with foamings of the mouth.

I believe the problem to be caused by a cookie-cutter approach to education by schools who haven't the resources (or the authority) to incorporate a rational list of reading and actually search for alternatives. In other words, sheer economics. "This list handed down from above must be good--it's what these learned experts studied when they went to school!" (never mind that the list is antiquated and hasn't been updated in eons--they're classics, man!)

Rather believe laziness than suspect ill intentions (must go rinse foam from teeth)