Below is a correspondence.
To follow it, you have to start at the bottom and work up - I've numbered them 7 to 1.
(That's only because I'm too lazy to cut and paste it the other way. I've just copied it from email.)
A few personal details are 'redacted' and put into square brackets.
I offer it as an example of how government education policy is put into practice.
Any comments on this - you can go to twitter or facebook, where I've posted the link
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7.
To: Sue Murray
I think you're missing the point.
What I'm suggesting to you is that there are many poets, teachers, advisers and institutions which have expertise in the field.
The issue is whether the government wanted to work with these people - as it was being set up.
By the way the curriculum is not 'national'. It applies only to local authority schools in England ie not in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland ,nor in Academies, Free Schools, or the private sector.
From: Sue.Murray@mangomarketing.com
To: [me]
Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2014 17:09:19 +0000
Subject: RE: Michael Rosen
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6.
Hello Michael,
As far as I understand it, children are now required to learn and perform poetry as a statutory part of the new national curriculum for English which starts in September 2014. Historically it has never been mandatory.
Poetry by Heart has been created to help teachers who many not know how to introduce it into their teaching nor how to engage children.
Sue
Sue Murray
Managing Director
Mango Marketing Ltd.
1B The Quadrant Courtyard
Quadrant Way
Weybridge
Surrey
KT13 8DR
Tel: +44 (0) 1932 829077
Fax: +44 (0) 1932 827576
Mobile: 07789 993304
www.mangomarketing.com
CIPR - 'Outstanding Agency of the Year 2011 - silver’ award
Gold Award Winner - CIPR Pride Awards 2007
Silver Award Winner - CIPR Pride Awards 2009
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5.
From: michael rosen
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2014 4:53 PM
To: [my agent]
Cc: Sue Murray
Subject: RE: Michael Rosen
"I had no idea that poetry had to be 'introduced' into primary schools!
Is there no poetry going on in schools?
Are there no teachers, advisers and poets with expertise in this area already?
Doesn't a group of us spend hundreds of hours a year visiting schools?
Haven't I, for one, been doing this for forty years?
isn't there a poetry centre at the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education?
Does the DfE have our addresses so that we might have been brought into discussion about this?
When it comes to learning poetry by heart - this misses the point.
How do we find out how best to get children to WANT to read, enjoy and learn poetry?
Is there any work already on this subject?
Isn't there a research project underway from the University of Leicester?
Hasn't Michael Lockwood from the University of Reading done research on this?
Hasn't James Carter done work on producing books on this?
As for poetry in primary schools, what was the collection that Paul Cookson and Pie Corbett which sold hundreds of thousands of copies ? A collection that was put together precisely because the government had instituted poetry sessions in the National Literacy Strategy - a framework still largely used in schools when it comes to poetry?"
end of quote
please feel free to circulate
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4.
From: [my agent]
To: [me]
Subject: FW: Michael Rosen
Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:42:55 +0000
Hi Michael,
See below. Would you like to offer a comment?
Best wishes,
[my agent]
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3.
From: Sue Murray [mailto:Sue.Murray@mangomarketing.com]
Sent: 28 February 2014 16:41
To: [my agent]
Subject: RE: Michael Rosen
Hello,
Yes of course – here is the URL to the information on Rising Stars’ website.
http://www.risingstars-uk.com/series/poetry-by-heart/
It is all about supporting the Government’s aim of introducing poetry into primary schools.
I may not need him but wanted to know which poets were happy to be quoted or potentially interviewed and which weren’t.
I hope that helps
Sue
Sue Murray
Managing Director
Mango Marketing Ltd.
1B The Quadrant Courtyard
Quadrant Way
Weybridge
Surrey
KT13 8DR
Tel: +44 (0) 1932 829077
Fax: +44 (0) 1932 827576
Mobile: 07789 993304
www.mangomarketing.com
CIPR - 'Outstanding Agency of the Year 2011 - silver’ award
Gold Award Winner - CIPR Pride Awards 2007
Silver Award Winner - CIPR Pride Awards 2009
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.
From: [my agent]
To: Sue Murray
Subject: RE: Michael Rosen
Dear Sue,
Thanks for getting in touch. I’ll put it to Michael, but before I do, would you be able to let me know a bit more about the resource?
Many thanks,
[my agent]
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1.
From: Sue Murray
[to my agent]
Sent: 28 February 2014 16:32
Hello,
Mango Marketing is the PR agency for publisher Rising Stars. Rising Stars paid to use a poem written by Michael Rosen in their ‘Poetry by Heart’ resource for schools.
I am keen to promote the resource to the national and education sector media and would like to be able to offer Michael Rosen for comment.
Is this something he would be willing to do?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue
Sue Murray
Managing Director
Mango Marketing Ltd.
1B The Quadrant Courtyard
Quadrant Way
Weybridge
Surrey
KT13 8DR
Tel: +44 (0) 1932 829077
Fax: +44 (0) 1932 827576
Mobile: 07789 993304
www.mangomarketing.com
CIPR - 'Outstanding Agency of the Year 2011 - silver’ award
Gold Award Winner - CIPR Pride Awards 2007
Silver Award Winner - CIPR Pride Awards 2009
