Making the Good Reader and Citizen: The History of Literature Instruction at American Schools
FAIN: ES-288062-22
University of Texas, El Paso (El Paso, TX 79968-8900)
Jonna Perrillo (Project Director: February 2022 to present)
Andrew Newman (Co Project Director: February 2022 to present)
A two-week virtual, Level II institute for 30 middle and high school teachers to examine the history of literary education.
This institute will examine K-12 educators’ and school reformers’ changing conceptions of what constitutes a “good reader” across the twentieth century. To do so, we will trace two competing traditions in reading instruction: one emphasizes the role of literature in the student’s social, moral, and civic development; the other values skill-development and sees literature as a pathway to scientific, self-disciplined thinking that is also vital to the civic good. These tensions matter more today than ever. In developing a deeper understanding of this history, participating teachers will prepare to serve as stronger school leaders and more effective and creative practitioners.
Associated Products
Making the Good Reader and Citizen (Web Resource)Title: Making the Good Reader and Citizen
Author: Andrew Newman
Abstract: This is a website we created to document our Summer Institute and ongoing dissemination activities.
Year: 2023
Primary URL:
https://goodreader.hcommons.org/Book Bans Aren't the Only Threat to Literature in American Classrooms (Article)Title: Book Bans Aren't the Only Threat to Literature in American Classrooms
Author: Jonna Perrillo and Andrew Newman
Abstract: We argue that the marginalization of literature itself is the greatest threat to literature in K-12 English instruction.
Year: 2023
Primary URL:
https://time.com/6321014/banned-books-literature/Format: Magazine
Periodical Title: TIME
Publisher: TIME magazine online
We Can't Teach Democracy by Sidelining Literature in School (Article)Title: We Can't Teach Democracy by Sidelining Literature in School
Author: Rebecca Guerrero, Vanessa Sanders, Jonna Perrillo
Abstract: Two high school English teachers document how current teaching practices mark a break from the past.
Year: 2023
Primary URL:
https://elpasomatters.org/2023/08/10/opinion-we-cant-teach-democracy-by-sidelining-literature-in-school/Format: Newspaper
Publisher: El Paso Matters