Graphic Novels as a medium for learning.

As we've discussed the issue in class, I believe everyone agreed graphic novels can be incorporated as an effective medium for learning in the classroom.  And why not?  They are fun to read outside any formal school setting, too.  Yet in school, I could understand a teacher simply not adding graphic novels into their classroom because of a set curriculum or because it's not relevant to the overall subject in the course - but to say they're  not a mature form of literature that can facilitate learning, that's rubbish.  My notion is, far too many critics out there want to hold on to old, stereotypical preconceptions of the graphic novel as simply a comic strip full of irrational and fantastical action scenes coupled with over simplified language.  Even family members of mine can't be excluded from this hysteria.  After looking at the book peculiarly and inquiring why I have it, their consternation only left them irreparably befuddled.  But the problem is: many critics who slander graphic novels never even attempted to read one.  However, my experience is, after reading graphic novels more often my appreciation only grew more for them. It's a captivating experience to have sequential art (thinking in McCloud terms here) provided with the text to make a unified learning experience.  And it's certainly a refreshing break from textual works once in a while - many high school students I'd assume would think the same, and given they can be consumed in much less time yet leave just as meaningful of an impression that literary works can provide too.  But the most significant part of them is the ability they have to communicate meaning through text as well as visuals that expands learning in more faculties than one avenue alone may lend, especially for visual-spatial learners, or students who don't respond to text alone as well.  In fact, Shaun Tan's Arrival is full of metaphorical imagery that shows how paralleling the images with the text provided can create even more meaning as a whole. Lastly, even though graphic novels should never be considered an absolute in an English class, much like the literary canon shouldn't, they no doubt have a place in the classroom to serve as a medium for learning much like its counterparts.