Past Institutes

Making the Good Reader and Citizen: The History of Literature Instruction in American Schools (Summer 2024 Webinars)

On July 10 and 11, Humanities Texas held a webinar series for English language arts teachers investigating the history of secondary-school literature instruction in the twentieth century, specifically what constitutes a “good reader” and the role of literary study in democracy. 

Curriculum

These webinars investigated the history of secondary-school literature instruction in the twentieth century and educators’ and school reformers’ changing conceptions of what constitutes a “good reader.” Two sessions explored how our current moment fits into a longer history of thinking about literature, society, and teaching. In examining competing conceptions of the civic role of literature instruction in creating “good readers,” participants considered: 1) how historical events have compelled the fluctuations; 2) the role assessment has played; and 3) the impact of technologies of literature instruction on enacting and challenging these conceptions (including the high school canon and teachers’ lesson plans). In developing a richer, deeper understanding of literary studies and our profession, the program will help teachers serve as stronger leaders in their schools and more effective and creative practitioners in their classrooms.

The July 10 session focused on the student-centered tradition in secondary-level education that emphasizes the role of literature in the student’s social, moral and personal development. This perspective is what we now might call a “reader response” approach to reading that values personal response and debate and sees reading instruction as preparation for democratic participation. The July 11 session focused on a more text-centered, academic perspective that values content-knowledge or skill-development and sees literature as a pathway to scientific, self-disciplined modes of thinking that are also vital to the civic good.

Like all Humanities Texas teacher programs, the webinar series was content-based and teacher-centered, with an emphasis on teaching with primary sources and developing effective pedagogical strategies.

Faculty

Jonna Perrillo (The University of Texas at El Paso), Audrey Brimberry (La Vega ISD), and Vanessa Sanders (Socorro ISD) led the webinar series.

Schedule

The series took place over Zoom from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. on July 10 and 11. The webinar schedule can be viewed here.

Sponsors

The webinars were made possible with major funding from the State of Texas with ongoing support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.