How I got my students to read Chaucer

A woodcut from William Caxton's second edition of The Canterbury Tales printed in 1483.

Sometimes teachers have to be sneaky!

I recently received a notice for the newspaper from Advance Choral Music Director Allison Page, and, I must admit that her announcement has sent my memory sliding back to my early teaching days.

It seems that this year's December Madrigal Feast will feature the story of the "The Wife of Bath."

This subject holds a dear place in my heart, as it causes me to reflect on my many years of teaching English literature in an earlier age, when there was time for something other than preparing for the State tests.

My most vivid memory was the first one, 49 years ago. I was a young teacher at Bell City High School, looking out at the rows of smiling students, who looked as if they were just waiting for me to make my first mistake. (Yes, Mary Rendleman Hart, I know you remember!)

I was teaching "The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer. Here is the synopsis from the ever-popular Wikipedia:

The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century, during the time of the Hundred Years' War. The tales (mostly written in verse, although some are in prose) are presented as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together on a journey from Southwark to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. The prize for this contest is a free meal at the Tabard Inn at Southwark on their return.

In my defense, I did not make my students read the stories in the original Middle English, though I did assign them to read one more story than "The Pardoner's Tale," which was included in our book.

I was thinking, "How am I going to get these kids to read these old, old stories," when I hit on the idea!

I would tell them which stories NOT to read, knowing that, most assuredly, they would all rush to the library and check out the book to read "The Miller's Tale," that raucous, bawdy story from 14th Century England.

To my delight, I peeked around the door to the library, during their study hall, and there they were, grouped around the book, reading it together--just having a forbidden ball, doing something they had been told NOT to do!!

I have loved teaching ever since.

To say that I am excited about this year's Madrigal Feast is putting it mildly. The Medieval Age is one of my very favorite periods of history. When I taught at Oran, Mo., I finally dredged up the energy to have outdoor Medieval-Renaissance festivals for about five years. The enthusiasm of the students and my fellow teachers was so contagious! One year, we added a Scottish theme, and the boys went down to the home economics room to make their own kilts. We had a May Pole one year and jousting tournaments. I have never had so much fun in my life!

Unfortunately, these activities "interfere with the classroom learning" and cannot be measured by questions on a State M.A.P. test, so they are discouraged.

I envy the choral music teachers, who have an "excuse" to let their students dress in period costumes and take part in recreating history.

Heaven forbid that all education has to be relegated to a multiple choice question on a test.

The Madrigal will be presented on two days--Dec. 14 and 15. See you there!