Educational institutions have guided students away from developing their literary voices and styles with the education system's growing focus on standardized, formulaic writing. Schools need to increase their investment in the arts, through courses such as creative writing, in order to provide students with the skills to master academic writing while embracing creativity and … [Read more...] about The Book Is on the Table: Creative Writing in High School
Featured Blogs
Chasing the Unicorn: The Great Homestuck Experiment
Every week, Lilian Min muses on reality + sci-fi/fantasy fiction narrative and fantastical world building in her column “Chasing the Unicorn.” If you've ever been on Tumblr, and I mean, really been on Tumblr, then you'll know what Homestuck is. Actually, no, the correct way of phrasing this is that you know that there is a thing called Homestuck, but you don't really know … [Read more...] about Chasing the Unicorn: The Great Homestuck Experiment
One Nation Under Who?: The Supreme Court vs Us.
American schoolchildren are taught that the United States is a representative democracy, in which citizens vote for their leaders who make laws. The federal government’s executive branch’s leader, the president, and members of Congress (the legislative branch) are elected more or less directly by the people. Congress proceedings are broadcast via CSPAN and the president, being … [Read more...] about One Nation Under Who?: The Supreme Court vs Us.
Girls on Film: Forced Representation
The majority of people I have talked to have at some time or another read The Catcher in the Rye, a tale of the famous protagonist, Holden Caulfield. I, like many others, was required to read this novel in ninth grade. If you haven’t read the book, it basically just goes through Holden’s struggles with school, family, life, etc. If you have read it, you probably remember the … [Read more...] about Girls on Film: Forced Representation
The Book Is on the Table: Memorizing Education
Oh, the joy of high school. Wake up early, see the same people every morning and afternoon, eat less-than-tasty lunch, and memorize all sorts of information teachers deem important. On the day before a major test, most, if not all, students push themselves through the process of memorizing key names, dates, formulas, you name it, to do well. Then, when these students proceed … [Read more...] about The Book Is on the Table: Memorizing Education