From: Lbhcove_at_aol.com <Lbhcove>
Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 11:45:13 EDT

In answer to Dean Schneider's post: I am not saying to abandon all forms, for example, the sonnet is a classic form, one that has been written for eons.

What I am against, and I am sure Dean would agree with me, is force?eding children into forms and the misuse of them.

I have heard teachers say: "Draw a big round ball and put words around it. Now you have a concrete poem!"

Or: "You've l5 minutes to 'come up with' a haiku." Or the misuse of what Teachers and Writers Collaborative is trying to do when children write:

"I used to be a banana but now I'm rock star."

This ain't poetry. It's drivel.

Forms are viable if taught the right way.

LBH
Received on Mon 04 Apr 2005 10:45:13 AM CDT