Doing poetry : a Freireian approach

The purpose of this study was threefold: (1) to determine whether a Freireian approach to poetry increased students' knowledge of poetry as a craft and as an art; (2) to determine whether a Freireian approach to poetry enhanced students' perceptions of poetry; (3) to ascertain to what extent, if any, a Freireian approach to poetry increased students' self knowledge and their awareness of others. To this end I conducted a case study of a group of ninth grade "basic" students at a local high school from April 16, 1993, until May 16,1993. At the end of the four weeks, I evaluated students' writings and interactions and came to the following conclusions: first, a Freireian approach to the teaching of poetry had greatly increased students' knowledge of poetry as a craft; second, a Freireian approach had increased students knowledge of poetry as an art; third, a Freireian approach had helped students gain knowledge of themselves as individuals from poetry; fourth, a Freireian approach facilitated decentering on the part of students; and finally, a Freireian approach helped students identify, build, and retain an authentic culture in the classroom.