Authors hired to talk about their work

Press, 16 August 1977, Page 22

Authors hired to talk about their work

PA Wellington The Book Council has signed up 39 New Zealand writers to visit schools to talk about their work. The council has formally launched a writers-in-schools programme after the success of a pilot scheme last year supported by the performers-in-schools committee of the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council. “Visits to schools by ‘real’ writers have long been popular with both teachers and pupils as a means of enlivening English lessons and promoting useful discussion of texts,” said Professor Keith Sinclair, president of the council. “Under this programme school pupils and their

teacher* all over New Zealand are able to meet the writers whose names may appear on their set texts and to hear them read and discuss their own work. “For example, schools in the New Plymouth area recently combined to allow pupils to attend a poetry reading conducted by Sam Hunt and Denis Glover.” The council is now circulating to schools a booklet containing the names of the 39 writers, their works, and their interests. When schools make requests for visits, the council will make the arrangements. The writers will receive a set fee of $3O and reimbursement of expenses.