Writers project brings Poe to middle school

Pike Library, DV students, American Readers Theatre to explore Poe MILFORD — The Pike County Public Library is partnering with the Delaware Valley School District and the American Readers Theatre on the Writer’s Project, an innovative educational method of exploring the historical and cultural context of great works of literature by involving and exposing students to relevant examples of performance art from a specific author’s time period. The first author selected is Edgar Allan Poe. The Writer’s Project will focus on Poe’s classic poem, “The Raven” and other works to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Poe’s birth in 1809. Students from the Delaware Valley Middle School will engage in a 10-week series of after-school workshops culminating in a community performance highlighting collected works by Edgar Allan Poe, music by Poe-contemporary composer Stephen Foster, dance by the Joffrey Ballet School, and an art exhibit displaying examples of period “illustration art” created by participating students. “A fundamental barrier to increasing arts education in our public schools is limited resources,” says PCPL Director Ellen Schaffner. “Without additional opportunities and funding streams, school districts are hard pressed to further enhance their curriculums. Community partnerships—such as those that the library has forged through the Writer’s Project—are one important way of enriching curriculum and increasing access to the arts for our local students.” “Poe is an ideal choice for this project,” says Nancy Schoenleber, a Dingman Delaware Middle School English teacher. “Not only is Poe’s work part of the required reading list for our eighth-grade students, but 2009 marks the 200th anniversary of his birth in 1809, an event that will be celebrated across the world.” Jeffrey Stocker, founder and director of ART, notes that The Writer’s Project takes students beyond the usual experience with literature. “The workshops in dramatic reading, dancing and singing will open a whole new world of ideas and art to everyone involved in the project. The mission is to promote literacy through the performing arts.” The Writer’s Project is made possible with Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) funds administered by the library. EITC is a Pennsylvania state program that provides tax credits to businesses that contribute funding to an educational improvement organization such as PCPL. The funds must be used for innovative educational programs in a public school. Funding for the Writer’s Project was provided to PCPL by Dime Bank, PennStar Bank and Wayne Bank.