Should teenagers be taught how to write poetry?
- H0LD0Nthere
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Re: Should teenagers be taught how to write poetry?
I think poetry is like music. There are basics that must be mastered if you hope to do it passably (or at all), but of course there is a spectrum of aptitude and everyone falls somewhere along this spectrum, from being totally poetry-deaf to being a natural. Just as I think there is value in teaching the basics of music to people like myself who are not gifted musically, so I think there is value in teaching the basics of poetry to everyone, whether or not they have in them the seeds of greatness.
For one thing, when you know a little something about poetry you notice it and appreciate it more.
For another thing, many people have enough talent that they can do something well if given a little training, but not so much talent that it will burst out if they are never exposed to the discipline.
Also, many teenagers spontaneously write poetry. Dorothy Sayers called the teen years "The Poetic Stage" of a child's mental development. They are just discovering beauty and art, and are bursting with the desire for self-expression. Granted, most of the poetry they write is going to be inferior and self-absorbed ... but if they receive some training, it can be better than it otherwise would be, and those with aptitude will have a chance to develop their talents.
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So it is invaluable and yet at the same time unknown to many? Not invaluable to those folks, eh?
Music is an invaluable outlet for personal expression? According to the US Census, about 13% of Americans either sing or play a musical instrument. So the other 87% of the population should be poets?
Is it your contention that those who have not studied poetry or music have no or limited outlets for personal expression?
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^ I agree with this person, I couldn't have said it better myself.goldenmountains230 wrote:I believe teenagers should be taught the different types of poems and about each of the different existing poets so each teenager has the ability to develop his or her own style in poetry through the gift of learning.
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But hey, I think they should teach it in schools. At least teenagers should have an idea of what it is. And how it is usually done.
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
- RheaGrey
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But it's definitely not something that should be forced. Just a simple intro course where the teens learn about poetry and write their own basic poems following certain guides. There will most undoubtedly be those students who flourish, and those that just can't grasp it.