The Second Story’s story
Friday, December 14, 2007
Once upon a time in the City of Indianapolis, there lived a small band of do-gooders who were just itching for a way to help inspire kids to do better in school. Now, it just so happened that these do-gooders were writers…and it just so happened that the closer they looked, the clearer it became that schoolkids in Indianapolis didn’t get much instruction in creative writing.
Which struck them as curious. Because they also noticed that kids who did get into creative writing were better, more enthusiastic readers and tended to do better in other subjects, too. In fact, creative writing seemed to be the sort of thing to introduce kids’ brains to a whole world of interesting stuff.
So why weren’t teachers teaching kids creative writing? Well…
Lots of them weren’t confident enough in their own writing skills to teach creative writing to their classes. Some of them didn’t think they were qualified to judge creative writing. The big reason, though, was that kids never got tested on creative writing—and there were so many things kids had to be tested on that creative writing fell by the wayside.
Which is right where our small band of do-gooders found it. So they picked it up, dusted it off, and, after a whole lot of gabbing and planning and making trips to faraway lands to investigate how other do-gooders were getting this sort of thing done, they decided it was just the thing they were looking for.
And that’s how the Second Story was born.
The Second Story is dedicated to the idea that engaging kids in creative writing opens their minds. It will help them do better in school. It will encourage them to stay in school. It will help them communicate the stories of their lives and understand and appreciate others’ stories. It will make the city a better place for kids, who will grow up to become more imaginative, curious adults, which will make the city a better place for everyone.
And all of that imagination and curiosity bursting out of the city of Indianapolis will make the whole world a better place.
Does that seem reasonable? Of course not. It’s ridiculous to think that a small band of do-gooders teaching creative writing to kids can change the world any time soon.
Thank goodness we’re getting started now.
ByAdministrator
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I don’t think the problem is localized in Indianapolis. Getting started now is a good thing.
Lisa
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