Actually, I didn't have a choice. Romeo & Juliet is the Shakespeare play taught to freshmen in most high schools across the country. And one Shakespeare play a year is the most they can bear. Also, an interesting thing about high school (and life), it takes teachers of all kinds to provide an education. No need to toe a party line. Different students respond to different styles. I wasn't the school's most popular teacher, but I was well liked by my students, particularly my girl students, many of whom joined my elective Journalism class in part to be mentored by me. I love the Handmaid's Tale, btw. I tried to teach it one year, but most of my freshmen didn't like it--not enough action. It's for more mature readers.