In this reading, “Kitchen Tables and Rented Rooms: The Extracurriculum of Composition”, Gere discusses the importance of extracurriculum. This term can be described differently by many, but in this text she explains exactly what it means to her. Gere states, “The extracurriculum I examine is constructed by desire, by the aspirations and imaginations of its participants. It posits writing as an action undertaken by motivated individuals who frequently see it as having social and economic consequences, including transformations in personal relationships and farming practices”(pg. 80). This reading shows how much our education system is really lacking to give its students the freedom and power to use their ideas and opinions to write great works.
Personally, I have only positive things to say about my experiences in English classrooms. I had the same English teacher all four years of high school, and he was phenomenal. Like any class, we followed a curriculum, but we were able to openly express our ideas and opinions in class discussions, as well as our written papers. In class we were required to read certain novels or poems, but I never left that classroom without understanding the concept and ideas. We also had books to take home and read outside of class. These books may have fallen under a specific category, but we always had the option of a few different stories. Allowing students to make this decision already gives them a little more interest in what they are reading. Handing someone a book and telling them to read it, understand it, and write about it isn’t exactly realistic. Most English classes expect that out of their students, but I feel I had a very different experience. I was fortunate. Not only did we have options in our book-choice, but we also had some options in our quizzes and tests. Essay questions were always included in our test, but out of the four or five given, we could choose the two or three that we cared for most, and wanted to write about. We had a specific curriculum that needed to be followed and accepted, but we were able to read, talk, and write about things that we truly did enjoy. Senior year our class was even given a journal to use. We would take 30 minutes of our class time to write in them; about anything and everything. These journal entries had no guidelines whatsoever, and everyone enjoyed them. We were allowed to be creative and take pleasure from our writing. All of these extracurriculum options I was given is similar to what other institutions and teachers should really push for. Some sort of “writing club” would also be great. This could be a club where people come together and write about their stories and experiences as well as their interests and desires. They could share these written works with another because it can give them that confidence. Like Gere states, “the women in the Tenderloin Women’s Writing Workshop take strength from finding that their experience is worth expressing”(pg. 76), it truly is nice to share your experiences and have those people read and listen to you. Another woman says, “You write down your world and then you read it to other people and they affirm you for it”(pg 76). It’s great to get the opinions of others and have them appreciate you and your works. If there was a club like this in schools I think there would be a lot more interest then we could even imagine.
On my papers I always received above-average grades, and I knew that there were times I truly could write great things. Throughout my years in school I was praised for my writing abilities. But even with all of the compliments and good grades in class, I sometimes felt that I wasn’t a very good writer. Writing doesn’t necessarily come easy to me, so it always seemed that I was putting in twice as much time and effort in as some, and probably getting the same grade as most. I have always expected more and more out of myself, and I feel like I can never truly be satisfied with my works. I’ve never labeled myself as a “bad writer”, but I feel like I’m definitely not where I would like to be. A lot of these feelings are more of a personal matter because I do not feel that I have been taught unconsciously that I cannot write.
Extracurriculum is important, and it’s necessary to becoming better writers and students. Gere’s reading really shows the importance of extracurriculum and it’s lacking in schools. Giving people the freedom to choose what they write and how they write, would really be inspiring. If people like writing they’re going to continue to do it, and become better at it. This is what we need to really focus on in our education system.
Throughout your post I found that I can relate with you. Like you I was a fortunate english student in high school. Originally, I was placed in the average track english class, but knowing my own abilities I requested to be placed in the advanced level. That was one of the best decisions I had made. My teachers focused on letting us find our own love for words. In my advanced courses I found that I learned more about myself than the students with less freedom in the structured average course. In particular, my Senior year teacher, Ms. Slattery, a.k.a Slat Dog, 2 Cent Slat and among another positive heart felt names, was not only the best, but the teacher who had been at the high school the longest. She had her freedom, got her way with the principal and yelled at the under classmates that did not deserve her time till they worked their way up from each grade level. By far learned the most from her. She emphasized vocabulary and a big one at that. We would read important classics, poetry, and write on the interests of life. This women taught senior boys and girls to act like adults. Never was I more inspired by her motivation to teach everything, not just 12th grade english. She was one of the many great influential teachers I had had throughout the 13 years of public education.
ReplyDeleteI agree with writing groups. They would inspire outside of class writing that many people are nervous to write on. I have heard so many criticize a diary. When in reality, it is a journal! How else are we supposed to remember every single day of our lives if we cannot reflect on it in writing? My biggest hope is that my Grandma will pass her journals down to me. It is a chuck of history that is directly related to my life. What more could anyone want that is of interest to themselves? Write on you, your thoughts and your interests. I do :)
When reading your post, I was really intrigued by the journal you had to use your senior year. I think that is a great way to really get involved in writing and like they say, practice makes perfect. Writing just a little everyday can really help your writing skills. It is also a stress reliever. I write in a journal whenever I am stressed, just to get all my feelings out on paper. I also had a teacher that gave me options on what I could read and made interesting ways to discuss the reading. It made my english class less boring than I usually considered it.
ReplyDeleteI also never thought of myself as a good writer. I got A's on the majority of my papers, but I still just saw papers as a formula to fill: introduction + 3 body paragraphs with quotes + conclusion = an A paper. I never was interested in what I was writing. I like the idea of writing groups outside of class, but I think that not many would join it. I think the journal would be a great way to write about things you enjoy, but it would be in-class so people would have to write and hopefully enjoy doing so. And maybe it would force them to learn something about themselves in return.