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February 7, 2025
As the second semester rolls in at MBHS, a recurring nightmare re-introduces itself for the umpteenth year in a row. Poetry Out Loud is right around the corner, dragging heaps of performance anxiety and rising tensions between students. With the promise of a cash prize for the winner, students’ stress is morphing this beautiful recital into a cutthroat competition. This conflict has caused students to question the importance of Poetry Out Loud to their education.
Just as many other presentation-based assignments do, Poetry Out Loud gets a majority of students shaken up. Even the most confident scholars get shaky reciting a poem in front of their peers. The practice makes them feel vulnerable to judgement and sensitive to criticism. It’s something most students simply don’t partake in outside of school. Sophomore Dian Lewis, who won the Poetry Out Loud school wide competition last year, said, “The idea of reciting a poem in front of my peers definitely intimidates me. I think that’s something I’m still trying to grasp, the fact that I- big theatre kid who can go onstage and sing to hundreds of people- am nervous to recite in front of my peers.” Additionally, Junior Joss Finch said, “I think the idea of getting up in front of your peers and reciting a poem is terrifying.” The incentive of a monetary reward only amplifies these negative feelings.
Poetry Out Loud finalists from Montana, 2024. (Photo credits: Montana Art Council.)
Money is a universal motivator for all students. Cash is hard to come by when you’re attending school five days a week, seven hours a day. Many underestimate the work it takes to earn this prize, which often leads to frustration. When discussing what makes a poem into a winning performance, Lewis said, “Recognizing that louder or more animated isn’t necessarily ‘better.’ Each poem garners a different tone or pacing.”
While Poetry Out Loud is certainly scary and difficult for students, many debate whether or not it’s important or helpful to their education. Finch said, “I don’t know if I’d deem it helpful. It definitely… builds character.” While building character is a meaningful trial of life, it isn’t what Poetry Out Loud intends to evoke within its participants. Lewis also questioned its relevance, they said, “I’m not sure I’d say it is important, and I mean that as kindly as I can.” It’s not that Poetry Out Loud isn’t an interesting or entertaining event, but its mandatory involvement here at MBHS ultimately does more harm than good.
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