1. My first grader is a prodigy and would like to memorize one of the 10th grade poems. Is that okay?
No. We are well aware that younger students are able to memorize copious amounts of poetry (after all, our Kindergarten teacher teaches “Casey at the Bat” to the Kindergartners every spring). However, since our younger students are reciting an individual piece for the first time at school and focusing on speaking it well, we would like them to stay with the shorter category of pieces. The longer pieces also typically deal with more difficult themes and are more difficult to deliver well.
If your student really wants a challenge, the rule is that he or she may move up a maximum of one category level when picking a piece. For example, first graders wanting a challenge could pick from the 2nd/3rd grader pieces, or 4th-6th graders could pick from the 7th-9th grader pieces.
2. My student’s classmate picked the same poem. Is it okay for two kids to do the same poem?
Yes. Duplicate poems within the classroom are fine. This will happen as a matter of course since we are allowing the kids to pick poems instead of assigning the poems.
3. My student wants to recite a poem he wrote himself. Is this okay?
No. While original work can be excellent, we are sticking with more classic works for speech meet.
4. My student wants to recite a poem he found on the internet that’s not on the list. Is this okay?
No. For ease of coordination, we are only using the poems on the list this year.
5. Can my student just recite an old piece he already has memorized?
No. Students should stretch themselves by memorizing something new for Speech Meet.
6. My child is really nervous about this. Can he or she opt out?
No. This is part of the education your child is receiving at Paideia, not an optional activity. But one thing to note about classical education is that students are already standing to speak in front of their classroom all the time. In first grade, a student will pop up from his chair when called upon by the teacher and narrate back the story of the Pilgrims to the class or explain the differences between deciduous and evergreen forests. The main difference with Speech Meet is that the student will physically stand in the front of class to recite to an audience of his classmates. By starting Speech Meet in 1st grade, we are helping students to normalize standing in front of the class. The teacher is also there to support your child—there will be a practice day in class the week before Speech Meet so students can become more comfortable with reciting.