Adam Henze is a poet, who never thought he’d be a teacher.
“I thought education was stupid. I hated school when I was a high schooler. I hated it, I hated it, I hated it.”
But then, in college, Henze discovered slam poetry. And it got him thinking about how poetry could enliven education and promote a new literacy.
“If we’re going to help students better read the world around them, we’d better start analyzing more than just the Epic of Gilgamesh!”
On this episode, producer Shayne Laughter shares Henze’s path from poetry to the classroom. The once reluctant teacher has sought to reinvent poetry as a more relevant art form, one that speaks to a new generation.
And we go into the studio with a beloved set of musical brothers who have parlayed their act from the Bloomington Farmers Market to the national circuit. The last time brothers Lewis and Addison Rogers visited WFIU, they had just released their first full-length album A Long Goodbye. In the two years since, they have gone on a few national tours, made music videos, organized a parade float, continued to busk at the market, and recorded a brand new album, which they’re celebrating with a release party this weekend. During a visit to the brothers’ home studio this week, WFIU’s Mark Chilla got caught up on Busman’s Holiday developments and was serenaded with a song for the season.
Stories On This Episode
From Page To Mouth: Teaching The New Literacy
By Shayne Laughter - Dec 2, 2016
Slam Poet Adam Henze's PhD in Education brings slam poetry into the classroom - as an educational tool that builds literacy, confidence and character.
At Home With Busman’s Holiday
By Mark Chilla - Dec 1, 2016
The newest album from Bloomington band Busman's Holiday was two years in the making