Meg Martin from Poynter writes: Just chatted with 25ish fourth to eighth graders and their teachers at Writers Camp. Teachers came up to me later to ask about Irish oral storytelling and other related things. Then one of them talked about how her kids have no sense of story -- beginning, middle, end, characters, etc. -- and that they don't think in narrative form. And she thinks it's because they don't read fairy tales anymore -- and didn't, when they were younger. Interesting theory. I've heard it before, and I can imagine that she might be on to something. Plus, if we're to believe the studies thrown at us these days, kids spend less time with older folks and large groups of families now than they did a generation ago. Which means fewer stories of "the old days." Less oral narrative. Makes you think differently.
I actually went over some of my folklore/oral history notes last night because I was intrigued. I'd heard the argument before -- however lightly -- and, if a few of my favorite oral historians and cultural anthropologists are to be believed, it's true. Only thing I've got to find out is if there are any "stats" on how much time young folks spend with old folks. And how much fairy tales are told. But just look at their placement in Barnes & Noble, and you'll see that the Brothers Grimm have been usurped by Sandra Boynton and "Everybody Poops."
(Ben's note: I started reading The Phantom Tollbooth (word, Goldberg) to the bigger girl last night. She didn't pay much attention -- lost in the pictures of her Olivia -- and fell asleep after the second chapter. But I kept reading.)
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