Thoughts on English Classes in General

Why is it that we are required to adhere to reading certain "classics" in English literature? Why are we not able to pick what we would enjoy reading, rather then prolong the dreading feeling of having to get through yet another complicated book? We are required to analyze what certain exquisite sayings and words mean that were applied in books hundreds of years ago. Some classic's are easy to appreciate, but most of them are not because the idea's and plots are stretched and difficult to relate with the situations we are faced with today. We are more apt to relate to the morals and lessons when we are older, so why are we reading them now? I think one of the main reason's teachers stick with classics is because of the reason that it's hard to find books parents all agree with, but there are a lot of quality books then people conceive to be out there, we just need to look for them. If teachers picked a more recent classic, or any book that they thought had a good moral or lesson to it, then students, though not all, might appreciate it. With a more situational story, students might be willing to be more involved in discussions with the class, because then they might understand the language with a better concept then with old English. Old Classic's are more appreciated during Junior and Senior years, where students have a choice whether they want to learn about old English, then be required to read at a younger age and expect comprehension. Teachers would have more success picking books that a larger percentage of students in the required English classes would comprehend and wouldn't mind getting through.