I had the very great pleasure of judging the Poetry Out Loud competition at our local high school. What a treat it was. A dozen high schoolers recited poetry — every thing from The Charge of The Light Brigade to Shakespeare’s sonnets and many modern gems. I was recruited at the last minute after a regular judge had to drop out, and I am so glad I was asked. Thanks to the hard work of all the students and to one very special English teacher, Angela Heath! You made my weekday evening special!
About Poetry Out Loud —
The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation have partnered with U.S. state arts agencies to support Poetry Out Loud, a contest that encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.
After successful pilot programs in Washington, DC, and Chicago, Poetry Out Loud was launched in high schools nationwide in the spring of 2006 with tens of thousands of students participating. POL has grown every year with over 365,000 students competing in 2011-2012.
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