Children's Lit Students Make the News
Students of Trent University's Children's Literature course are going public with their creativity in a fortnightly feature in The Peterborough Examiner. Published every second Saturday, "Kids' View" is a full page of kids info and activities created by Children's Lit students Dan Durst, Paul Langevin, Terry Guindon, and Melissa Anderson. Professor Stephen Brown runs the editorial board every Wednesday to decide on content. Layout is done by Dan Durst with Terry Guindon doing some of the photography.
The idea for a children's page in the Examiner came to Professor Brown a couple of years ago. Thinking it would be a great way of getting students involved with some print journalism, he introduced the idea to his class. "This year, we had just the right combination of talents in the students to establish the page and bring it off professionally," said Prof. Brown. "Now that we have a template, it should be easier for members of the class to take over the page as a course project each year. We get a good deal of input from readers and schools, and we make a strong effort to emphasize local issues and activities. Reading and literacy will be big themes; every issue will have an interview with a local children's author or illustrator. There are about 60 such in the Peterborough area, so we won't run out for some time!"
The Peterborough Examiner gives the page from Trent two thumbs up. Managing Editor Ed Arnold says he hopes "Kids' View" will draw more children in to the joy of reading. "The goal is for children to read and to have fun doing it. It's always better to have children reading instead of watching television," said Mr. Arnold. "The students have done a tremendous job creating 'Kids' View.'"
The Children's Literature Course (ENG 385) also has its own weekly radio show on Trent Radio and a drama group which writes and performs original plays for children, touring local schools every April.
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Last updated March 1, 2002
