The Status of Literature in Secondary Schools of the O.E.C.S. - Research Findings by Dr. Anthony Felicien
Research by Dr. Anthony Felicien examines the status of literature in secondary schools of the O.E.C.S., focusing on the decline of interest in literature among students, influenced by historical curriculum changes and parental attitudes. The study highlights the importance of studying literature for critical thinking, social insights, and literacy education, emphasizing the need to reassess the value of literature in education.
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The Status of Literature in Secondary Schools of the O.E.C.S. Dr. Anthony E. Felicien Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
WHAT KNOWLEDGE IS OF MOST WORTH????? Perennial Curriculum Question Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Background Literature compulsory from the 1950 s to 1980 s. Williams (1951) argues that early education in BWI reflected a classical curriculum. Literature highly valued. Upsurge in Business subjects in the 90 s. Anecdotal reports Seeming disaffection towards Literature . Students lack of interest in reading fictional literature, poems and plays Discussions with students/observations of classroom behaviour Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Problem/Background Attitudes of parents : You can t do anything with Literature. Empirical evidence : CXC statistics Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Table 1 CXC Comparative O.E.C.S. Entries Maths 1995-2005 YEAR English A P.O.B. Soc. Stud English B 1995 5501 4376 3163 2579 1218 1996 5532 4582 3318 2892 1282 1997 6371 5612 3591 3054 1416 1998 6479 6000 3800 3267 1409 1999 6696 5905 3405 3236 1447 2000 6977 6164 4386 4642 1514 2001 7462 6624 4524 4937 1491 2002 7908 7139 4842 4996 1564 2003 8142 6911 4878 5384 1585 2004 2005 8641 8290 7251 6961 4900 4632 5286 5275 1686 1636 Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Why Study Literature??? To become critical, mature and thoughtful readers. Literature as individual insight. Literature offers us knowledge of man as a social being, caught up in a complex of social issues and problems. (Deonanan and Deonanan ,1975) Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Why Study Literature? Hake (2004) laments the American society s mental poverty and suggests the need to live on a spiritual, intellectual and cultural plain. Arts education needed. Literature novels can be used to teach students comprehension strategies and this is important for their literacy education. (Boyd and Howe, 2006) Vasquez(2004) argues that critical literacy is important as it enables students to look at issues of social justice through a news lens, and students re- examine their lives as well as those of others. Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
AIMS The Research examined : The policies, written and unwritten of the Ministries of Education with regard to the role and value of Literature The value/merit attached to the subject by students, teachers and administrators Problems teachers encounter teaching Literature Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
AIMS (Continued) Students perceptions of Poetry How the organizational arrangements and practices of schools relate to the status of Literature (English B) Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
METHODOLOGY Purposeful sampling (Gay and Airasian, 2003) Six (6) countries of the O.E.C.S. : St.Lucia St.Vincent and the Grenadines St.Kitts/Nevis Grenada Antigua/Barbuda Dominica Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Methodology Form 3 students (600) 100 per island 49 teachers/ 25 Principals 25 Secondary schools: Traditional Grammar (10) Comprehensive (6) Newer secondary schools (9) Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Methodology Data Collection : Questionnaires (Teachers, students) Interviews (Principals, Heads of Curriculum) Document analysis ( Education Sector Plans) Lesson Observation (Observation Checklist) Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
FINDINGS No official policy with regard to the role and value of Literature. Maths and English Language are the only compulsory subjects throughout the region. Most students regard literature as important to them, and they cite educational, aesthetic, personal, job related and teacher related reasons All teachers, Principals and Curriculum Heads have a high value attached to literature. Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Response to Literature is important to me COUNTRY SA A D SD A Male Female 09 17 26 30 03 09 03 03 B Male Female 03 24 17 39 02 11 01 03 C Male Female 18 23 19 23 08 08 ----- 01 D Male Female 11 10 28 31 06 11 01 02 E Male Female 07 10 30 26 10 12 ---- 05 Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Response to Literature is important to me COUNTRY SA A D SD F Male Female 16 24 33 15 07 02 03 --- TOTAL 172 317 89 22 Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Literatures Importance English Literature is very important because in life, we need literacy. Without this subject in life, we cannot be successful. Reading is the key to education, which at this point is very important in our life. I want to pursue a career in Architecture in my later day. Literature is important because it helps me to think outside of the box, and this will help later when I will create my 3 dimensional drawings. (Student #583) (Student # 103) Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Students Concerns It is dry. I don t understand anything because of the way the teacher teaches. She really doesn t do a good job of it. To me Literature is a free period on the time table because it s boring and the teacher makes it hard to understand. Maybe if the teacher made the subject more enjoyable, then I would like it better. (Student #440) Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Students Concerns I do not feel that literature is important to me it is very difficult to understand and the field I would like to major in is Engineering. I don t think that I would need Literature. (Student #479) When the teacher comes in the classroom, she does not say good morning of good afternoon, and she boring. She need to go back to College for more information. (Student # 290) Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Difficulties Teachers Encounter Problems % of Responses Lack of resources 21 Students cannot read 05 Students do not read 22 Students lack of interest 12 Books on syllabus uninteresting 07 Administrative policy 04 Students do not own texts 12 Difficulty with comprehension 06 Poor teaching skills 03 Class time inadequate 02 Class size 04 Boys attitude to female roles 01 Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024 No classroom 01
One English teacher lamented : This is a boys school and past administrations treated literature as a subject that was done by students who were so weak academically, that no other subject teacher wanted them. In other words, they did the subject where they had no choice. (Teacher #48) Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
POETRY Most students claim a love for Poetry and cite educational, aesthetic, teaching methodology and personal reasons for their perception of the genre. Poetry is enjoyable and exciting (Student # 286) A study of Poetry is beneficial as it builds character (Student #498) Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
POETRY Poetry is therapeutic, as it helps to release anger. (Student # 318) I like to figure things out. Sometimes depending on the literary devices used in a poem, it makes you stop and try to understand the deeper meaning. It develops thinking skill. It can stir emotions and develop important messages. (Student # 104) Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Administrative arrangements While all 25 Principals attach a very high value to literature, the subject is only compulsory in 2 of the 25 schools used in the sample. Principal #3 Country A : This is the only secondary school on the island which has Literature as a compulsory subject in Form Four. Literature has to be compulsory. Literature is life. Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Administrative Arrangements In Country C, the Principal made Literature compulsory. This was attacked : The teachers, especially the Science teachers were not supportive. Parents showed their disapproval by refusing to buy the relevant texts. The teachers feel the important subjects are Science and Information Technology. (Principal #11) Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Sample Curriculum (Grammar Type School) Core Subjects Mathematics English Computer Science Core Options Spanish/French Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Grammar School Biology/Integrated Science/Human and Social Biology Geography/ History/ Social Studies Other Options Option 1 Option 2 Chemistry Physics Principles of Business Principles of Accounts Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Grammar School Electronics Technical Drawing Information Technology Food & Nutrition Visual Arts Literature Theatre Arts Agricultural Science Physical Education and Home Economics Sports Mechanical Engineering Office Administration Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Newer Secondary School School#17 Country E BLOCK 1 BLOCK 2 BLOCK 3 BLOCK 4 BLOCK 5 Chemistry French EDPM Geography Social Studies Building Tech English B Int. Science Agri. Science Spanish Office Admin P.O.B. Soc. Studies P.O.A. History EDPM Phys. Ed Physics French History P.O.A. P.O.B. Soc. Studies Food& Nut. Clothing Woods Tech. Draw Biology Geography Spanish Int. Science Build Tech Food & Nut. Clothing Tech. Draw Info. Tech Int. Science French Soc. Studies Office Admin Food & Nut. Woods Tech. Draw Clothing Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
CONCLUSION Education thrust in the region towards literacy is limited, as literacy is restricted to language. Teachers are in an ideal position to change the reading habits of students using what they already know popular culture and media. Issue of literacy and reading should not be the domain of the English department alone. Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Conclusion The notion that anyone can teach English must be challenged. The teaching of Literature in secondary schools needs urgent attention, complete with the monitoring of instruction. Ripple effects of government policy of literacy and numeracy reverberate in the organizational arrangements and practices of schools and in employment. Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Conclusion The integrated approach to the teaching of Literature, as recommended by CXC must be adopted, so that English A (Language) and B (Literature) are seen as being equally important. Administrative arrangements such as timetabling and subject choices in Form Four do not suggest that Literature is enjoying a high status in secondary schools. Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
References Boyd, F.B. & Howe, R. (2006). Teaching warriors don t cry with other texts to enhance comprehension. English Journal, 95(3), 61-68. Deonanan, C.R. & Deonanan, V.E. (1975). Curriculum insights and outlines: Learning and teaching English composition and literature. New York: Vantage Press. Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
References Gay, L. R. & Airasian, (2003). Educational research competencies for analysis and applications. New Jersey: Merrill Prentice Hall. Hake, S.R. (2004). Will my family starve if I major in literature? Retrieved April, 10, 2005 from http:// www.plc.edu/academics/liberalarts/Literature/Essay Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
References Vasquez, V.M. (2004). Negotiating critical literacies with young children. New York: Taylor & Francis. Williams, E. (1951). Education in the British West Indies. New York : University Book Shop. Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
Dr.Anthony Felicien 26/09/2024
