Elise Frangos holds 'An Invitation to Poetry,' an anthology AHS student performers are to receive from poet Robert Pinsky. At right is grade 9 and 10 English teacher Rebecca Walsh, who helped create the project modeled after Pinsky's work.

Selectmen name Feb. 27 Robert Pinsky Day

After the selectmen adopted a resolution Feb. 25 honoring Robert Pinsky, the former poet laureate was at Arlington High School on Feb. 27, when he and students read their favorite poems (second period, 9:10 to 10:10 a.m. in Lowe Auditorium). Elise Manley- Frangos, director of the English program for the Arlington public schools, explains what led to this honor as well as a day full of poetry at AHS.

Last summer, along with my colleague, teacher of English, Ms. Rebecca Walsh, I  attended the sixth annual Boston University Favorite Poem Institute for educators. This summer institute, led by Robert Pinsky, literature professor, builds on the principles of the Favorite Poem Project he started. Pinsky has taught literature for over 30 years at Stanford, Duke and Boston University and published six collections of poetry. He  believes the study of poetry is crucial in the modern world. I agree.

At the institute, teachers from across America shared their favorite poems, developed lesson plans for teaching poetry at the elementary, middle and high school levels, and presented lessons as grade-level teams. Lesson plans were posted electronically for all to enjoy. The week also involved seminar-style discussions with award-winning poets Gail Mazur, Mark Doty, Heather McHugh and Pinsky.

During this, the most transformative professional development seminar of my career, Rebecca and I forged friendships with teachers from faraway schools and we learned how deeply poetry connects to each reader’s aesthetic sense and identity.

Robert Pinsky (2005)

 Our AHS FPP

Students chose published poems which resonated for them, and they composed reflections to accompany their poems. In many classes, before presenting their poems, students saw examples of Americans reading their favorite poems in the videos produced by Pinsky’s original project.

You can enjoy these videos by clicking here. These marvelous videos show people from all walks of life and experience sharing their favorite poems.

At Arlington High, when students presented their favorite poems in English classes they did not engage in poetic dissection, analysis or scavenger hunts for poetic devices.  Students wrote descriptors, or short reflections to introduce their poem. In these brief commentaries students invariably commented on the unique tone, imagery, mood or theme of the poem they chose as their favorite, but most connected poems to their own  life stories.

Students reported their great pleasure in sharing poetry for its resonance, beauty and power -- a refreshing break from poetic analysis, and they expressed that this project helped them know much more about their classmates’ unique qualities. In my class, after study of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, the project brought light, fun, and beauty. As students presented their favorite poems we projected personalized backdrop slides behind them connecting visuals to verse.

Finally, students tried out for the opportunity to present their favorite poems on stage with professor Pinsky.  A team of judges composed of Ms. Judy Ogilvie, AHS Librarian; Mr. Michael Byrne, drama director; and teachers of English Carol Dube, Rebecca Walsh and Frangos selected students to present their favorite poems just after February school vacation.  Students were chosen for their ability to convey their favorite poem’s meaning with an authentic and articulate voice, poise and energy.

Choosing was difficult. The culminating assembly will feature poems by writers such as Robert Frost, Shel Silverstein and Rudyard Kipling, as well as poems celebrating America. Students performing Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the culminating assembly are: 

Emily Allen, Caitlin Buckley, Mike Barbosa, Lindsay Diranian, Peter Kotiguia, Callie McHugh, Matt Pisano, Jocelyn Pitman, Elisha Thapa, Katy Wassam, Yujia Xiao, Jason Young, and Leona Zona. These students will receive a copy of Mr. Pinsky’s book, An Invitation to Poetry.

The Arlington High School English Department is proud of all students and staff of all disciplines who shared their favorite poems in classrooms. We plan to make the Arlington High School Favorite Poem Project an annual event, and we look forward to Robert Pinsky’s visit with great enthusiasm.

To honor Mr. Pinsky’s presence in Arlington, Selectmen Chairwoman Annie La Court has proclaimed Feb. 27 Robert Pinsky Day. You can watch this event on Arlington cable.  

Robert Pinsky’s Poetry

•    Sadness and Happiness (1975)
•    An Explanation of America (1980)
•    History of My Heart (1984)
•    The Want Bone (1990)
•    The Figured Wheel: New and Collected Poems 1966-1996 (1996)
•    Jersey Rain (2000)
•    Gulf Music: Poems (2007)

Prose: The Situation of Poetry (1977) Poetry and the World (1988) The Sounds of Poetry (1998) Democracy, Culture, and the Voice of Poetry (2002) The Life of David (2006) Translations: The Separate Notebooks by Czeslaw Milosz, with Renata Gorczynski and Robert Hass (1984) The Inferno of Dante: A New Verse Translation (1995)

 As Editor
•    Landor's Poetry (1968)
•    Handbook of Heartbreak (1998)
•    Americans' Favorite Poems: The Favorite Poem Project Anthology, with Maggie Dietz (1999)
•    Poems to Read (2002)
•    An Invitation to Poetry (2004)  Honors and awardsPoet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress (1997-2000)
•    National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship (1974)
•    Stegner Fellowship in Creative Writing at Stanford University
•    Saxifrage Prize (1980) for An Explanation of America
•    William Carlos Williams Award of the Poetry Society of America
•    Nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism (1988) for Poetry and the World
•    Nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry (1996) for The Figured Wheel: New and Collected Poems, 1966-1996
•    Ambassador Book Award in Poetry of the English Speaking Union
•    Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize (1997) for The Figured Wheel: New and Collected Poems 1966-1996
•    Los Angeles Times Book Award (1994) for The Inferno of Dante
•    Book-of-the-Month Editor's Choice (1994) for The Inferno of Dante
•    Academy of American Poets' Translation Award (1994) for The Inferno of Dante  

 RESOLUTION

WHEREAS: Robert Pinsky was appointed by the Library of Congress as the  39^th Poet Laureate of the United States in 1997 , and is a poet of world renown, and

WHEREAS: Robert Pinsky founded the Favorite Poem Project to bring Americans of varying backgrounds, of all ages and from every state to share their favorite poem, and

WHEREAS: The Favorite Poem Project was introduced to Arlington High School students who will celebrate, document and encourage poetry’s role in their lives on February 27^th, 2008 and

 WHEREAS: The students and faculty of Arlington High School are grateful for his participation and presence.

IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED: that the Town of Arlington shall declare Robert Pinsky to be Poet Laureate for a Day on  February 27^th , 2008 .

Respectfully submitted,

Charles Skidmore, Principal Arlington High School

Elise M. Frangos, English Director K-12, Arlington Public Schools

Readers have left 2 comments.

 1. Your comments are welcome ...
Bob Sprague, Super Administrator

... but please sign your full name. Thanks.

Bob Sprague

 Posted 2008-02-25 17:09:10

 2. English at AHS
Babs, Unregistered

We have a wonderful English program at AHS thanks to Ms. Frangos. One of the best in the state!

 Posted 2008-02-27 20:22:38

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