A Review on the Teaching of Poetry in Secondary Schools

Scientific Study from the year 1990 in the subject Didactics for the subject English - Pedagogy, Literature Studies, grade: A, University of the West Indies (School of Education), course: The Teaching of English, language: English, abstract: This review attempts to examine closely some of the methods that have been used in the teaching of poetry in secondary schools up to recent times and the suggestions that have been made to improve the status of poetry in schools and to help students to enjoy poetry. Indeed, poetry is one of the most creative forms of expression. It is language at its most meaningful, language carefully shaped and crafted into its most perfect form. Poetry encompasses all forms of human experience, from the simplest to the most intimate and complex. It speaks at once to the intellectual and the 'ordinary' man, the adult and the child. To imagine that poetry deals only with great experiences and great people is to greatly undervalue poetry. The Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics (1965, p. 159) states that 'poetry should matter and be felt to matter, in the community' and that its social function is no less important than its other functions. Nevertheless, critics of poetry seem to be united in the opinion that poetry is unpopular among adults as well as high school students worldwide. It is a fact that the majority of high school students are either indifferent or hostile to poetry. Dias and Hayhoe (1988 p.4) quote Greeves (1988) as saying that 'Poetry has become so rare in schools that it ought to be put on the endangered list.'

Joyette Fabien is a former secondary school teacher and social services administrator, but remains a teacher at heart. She is author of two short story collections , 'Motherless Children and Other Stories' and 'Four Strong Women' published both as paperbacks and as E-books. She is a featured author at Hubpages.com and Selfgrowth.com. and has published a number of articles on LinkedIn. She is also editor of the poems and short story collections of her daughters, Jenel and Jamesa Fabien. These include: 'Lighter Days and Brighter Moments' by Jenel J Fabien and Jamesa J Fabien, 'From "What! No Cheese?" to What Might Have Been' by Jenel J Fabien, 'Life ,Love and Laughter' by Jamesa J Fabien and 'Memories, Magic and Marshmallows by Jamesa J Fabien' . Apart from the fact that she enjoys writing, Joyette uses writing as a means of sharing her knowledge and experience with others as well as a medium for social commentary. Grin offers the perfect opportunity to share her research papers and academic theses with others working in like areas.