Mr. Henry Trist and English teacher, Ms. Marisa Paolone ‘96, with members of the freshmen English class.
English Department Incorporates Guest Speakers Into the Curriculum By: Marisa Paolone ‘96, PHS English Department
P
rovidence’s
English Department has always been top notch in making our students great writers, in addition to great thinkers. Though the works we study are conducive and applicable to current world issues, people and cultures, we wanted to truly bring in the outside world and give our students the ability to enhance their understanding and the importance of what they read and why; that reading is important, pleasurable, necessary for growth, and pertinent to their world.
In October, in continuation with the unit on the hero’s journey, my freshmen students began reading Homer’s Epic, The Odyssey. My students and I held a Skype session with a friend of mine, a former Marine, who fought in the Iraq war. Students created questions to ask him, based on his experiences in battle, surviving explosions and the enemy, making friends, losing friends, PTSD, lack of sleep, and lack of food. Students later took their notes and made connections between the soldier’s experience during and after war, with those of Odysseus. They also learned that PTSD is indeed a reality and that all men at war share common bonds, whether it be in real life or in Mythology.
In September, Ms. Annie Matthews’ ‘93 and my freshmen classes met in person with Mark Huntley Parsons, author of the students’ summer reading novel, Road Rash. As part of their study of the hero’s journey in literature, students generated questions to ask him, related to his experience and the novel; they then presented their group projects on the novel to him. Students learned his purpose as a writer and he let them know the importance of reading and writing in life. They were so excited, as was he, to share their projects and see the author as a real live person, who cares for his audience and what they gained from his work.
Pioneer Connections
In November, my freshmen began reading Steinbeck’s classic, Of Mice and Men. Set in northern California in the 1930’s, the novel showcases the hardships of the American farm worker during The Great Depression, while recognizing that friendships among men are crucial, challenging, and also heartbreaking. I was able to have my friend, Mr. Henry Trist, who is 95 years young, come in for a live Q&A session.
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