Caribbean Writers on Teaching Literature

Abstract

IN THIS ERA WHERE THE DOMINANT PHILOSOPHY of education is grounded in STEM, with the resulting undervaluing of the humanities in general and an almost disdainful dismissal of the relevance of studying subjects like literature in some quarters, the publication of Caribbean Writers on Teaching Literature not only makes a bold statement in defence of the relevance of literature today, but also seeks to ensure its continued relevance by identifying and delineating “best practices” (7) by “master” (2) teachers in the field. This 228-page combination of interviews and commentary provides a practical guide for those involved in the pedagogy of literature which is the primary objective. But it also presents a powerful argument for studying and teaching literature at all levels of the education system. And even though the focus is on literature, readers will discover that many of the principles and strategies that can be distilled from the interviews are applicable to other disciplines as well. The eighteen interviewees are drawn from a variety of backgrounds – nationality, location, age, pedagogical training, level of the education system at which they operate. They all describe their experiences with literature, their approaches to teaching in their distinct voices, but certain key commonalities can be distilled from this variety. These include: