I’m currently reading Doug Lemovs book Reading Reconsidered. In it they address this question, basically saying that great literature does not belong to just the elites but to all of us. I agree with this and with what you told your neighbor. Now, some kids hate reading in general and boring old classics specifically, but it doesn’t really matter. Education is not a commodity but a privilege. I’m a teacher and I do wish kids had more say in what they studied, however our country is suffering from a vital lack of connection these days and a unifying narrative. Great literature teaches about who we are and what we can become, as well as developing our intellect and increasing our vocabulary. It’s elitist NOT to teach it.