teaching

I was very honored when Lewis chose one of my poems to use with his class. They enjoyed it and that made me even happier. When you put your work out, its like a seed, blowing in the wind. You don't know who it will touch. Once it's out, it's out.

Get their parents to all buy me a drink. : ) But seriously - while strictly speaking all poems here are copywrited to the authors, and they should be contacted via Soup Mail or other method for permission to use - sounds like good usage to me. My wife teaches high school too. Not that it won't ever happen, but I think somebody complaining about it would be being needlessly picky - the poems can be read by anybody accessing the site on the internet, after all.

Lewis, you can use any of my poems anytime . . no problem, its not like I am going to be a poet of any consequence, nor do I ever plan to publish, I am just a girl who likes writing poetry. Once written on a public site our words belong to the universe, trying to control that is an endless and useless waste of time.

I feel like my babies have left home without my supervision or care, but, then again, that's an acknowledgement I gave a silent nod to when I first clicked on this site. What you put out in the universe will have an independent journey. I suppose I've done all a Mother can for my babies. So, a nod, though still a silent one ... CayCay

Hi , I'm not sure what the copyright laws are in the country where you live, but in Canada we have fair usage and fairness of dealing clauses. This would fall under 'Review" and Copyright says, "Criticism and review involve analyzing and judging merit or quality. The dealing may even be defamatory while remaining a fair dealing. The key is that fairness relates to the extent, rather than the content, of the copying. With respect to criticism, greater emphasis will be placed upon the transformative nature of the copy." If someone is posting on line, they should expect reviews, its par for the course. I discovered my work was used by students-- I think its a win win situation, personally. As a poet, I think it may be beneficial to the poet to receive those reviews, to learn from it--what worked and what did not, what are the poem's strengths and what needed to be improved. This way the teaching would go far past the classroom, and the poet can grow, too (as long as her or his ego isn't so HUGE that they can't take a critique.) I've reviewed many poems here on soup with others in a group study. Skill improvements come from practice, but they also come from deconstructing literary elements, yes? So, good on you! Teach the next generation how to analyze and deconstruct, pick our bones clean... its what poetry SHOULD be doing! A lovely cycle between the writer and the reader, a relationship which can loop. Cheers, Cyndi

My response is similar to Frederick's. My sons are both High School teachers, and I would want to encourage them and help in any way possible, to spread the beauty of poetry to their students. It would be kind and thoughtful to let the poet hear which poems you chose, and what critique was offered during the classes. :)

It is polite to ask permission. Light & Love

Thanks everyone, i love using all sorts of poetry, the kids like the life of the write , the currentness of these writes, how these writes vary so much and that we can comunicate with the authors. They love that its not some dead poet or poem written hundreds of years ago.

Hi Lewis! I think it's cool you're using poems from here, what a compliment for anyone you've selected :)

As both my sons are teachers I think anything you do to help a child understand literature is a good thing to do, if anyone is annoyed they have posted their works on a public site...keep teaching

Lewis, I think Rob's comment is true. But also I think poets would enjoy knowing their poems are being used in a classroom! I have had a few teachers approach me about such a thing in the past, and I enjoyed that courtesy.

Lewis all poetry here is copyright ,for my part any that are used for educational purposes should be appropriately accredited on any visual used (digital or otherwise) therein , and as a matter of courtesy to fellow PSoupers be so advised by an appropriate poem comment or soup mail.

Lewis - I think that since this is a community site you are under no legal or moral obligation to obtain any author's permission prior to use. And if this is true, then everyone here should understand that permission is granted as soon as they upload anything. It is nice that you are asking here though. And the truth be told, a small part of me hopes a few are annoyed. :)

Lewis, my only request would be that you forward me any of the critiques and changes suggested as I am always open to a learning experience.