Bow Making in English Class: Education That Works

by Benjamin Dancer

BOW MAKING IN ENGLISH CLASS is a chapter-length story about education that works. The story offers an insightful look at literacy and standardized testing in the American education system. By relating the non-standard techniques Benjamin employs in the classroom, such as bow making and archery in his English class, he illustrates the importance of student passion and suggests that the bar set by standardized testing is too low:

"Are we really going to focus our worry on a test score when millions of kids who are hardwired to be curious, to love learning, don’t exhibit a passion for their own education?"

BOW MAKING IN ENGLISH CLASS is a chapter in a series of stories Benjamin is writing to be included in his book UNDERSTANDING OURSELVES, OUR CHILDREN AND OUR SCHOOLS. The book explores the themes referenced in the title through a collection of compelling narratives, giving context to our diverse lives, helping us to accept each other and ourselves.

41 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Benjamin is the author of the literary thriller PATRIARCH RUN, the first book in a series that will include FIDELITY and THE STORY OF THE BOY. He also writes about parenting, education, sustainability and national security.

He is the Director of Public Relations for the Colorado EMP Task Force On National and Homeland Security, which is the Colorado branch of a Congressional Advisory Board.

Benjamin also works as an Advisor at a Colorado high school where he has made a career out of mentoring young people as they come of age. His work with adolescents has informed his stories, which are typically themed around fatherhood and coming-of-age.