[etni] Fw: re: F and D
- From: "Ask_Etni" <ask@xxxxxxxx>
- To: "ETNI" <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 21:09:06 +0200
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marlene" <marlenegay@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: F and D
That's similar to what my son's Hebrew literature teacher answered when I
asked why they choose such boring (and depressing) items such as "gai oni",
or the old fashioned tedious Hebrew of Agnon, which I appreciate better as
an adult (and improved Hebrew reader). She said that if you aren't forced to
read ("good") literature in high school, when will you? You can always buy
the fun stuff on your own and read for pleasure. I remember in high school
the endless pages of Emerson's poetry - boring... But how wonderful in parts
when quoted by B.H.O. in his inauguration speech. I guess presentation is
all. It was my 8th grade teacher who turned me on to literature and poetry.
Try to catch Tues. night's HOT movie of As You Like It - taking place in
Japan. The canonical pieces of literature can be and ought to be
personalized and made relevant to the reader of any age.
I agree that they're taking metacognition to an extreme. They should be
testing comprehension and not which strategy did you use. Similarly, we're
not supposed to teach grammar in grade school, but rather teach them to use
the language correctly by many different contextual examples. We shouldn't
call it present simple, but make a game out of it or sing a song...
Similarly, in high school, is our objective merely to teach literary
analysis by means of devices such as metaphor, simile, protagonist, etc. or
rather an appreciation of what makes good literature? If we compare items
from pop culture to poems and show students the depth of the classics in
comparison: Why do some works move us to tears? Do you remember the poem
"The Tree" that was taught as an example of a badly written poem (because of
mixed metaphors, or something)? It was a "nice" poem but not a great poem.
OMS deals with so many perenial issues of patroitism, materialism, etc. that
speak to Israeli students. It ought to be revamped in Hebrew (has it been?)
and put on Habimah. Evelyn succumbs to the stultifying forces of her
situation. Perhaps one could juxtapose another work where someone escaped
poverty.
Our aim is to get the students to understand literature and appreciate the
great works. Robert Frost's poems were intended for the educated farmer and
can be appreciated on the literal level as well as deeper meanings.
Literature as commentary on life or a window to another time and place. Good
writing utilizes literary devices not only in books, but everyday media.
Sorry, I got carried away.
Marlene
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