What movies and books will students be studying under the proposed English curriculum? | RNZ News
Today, I was totally surprised to find an article written by the RNZ (Radio NZ) about the suggested movies and books that students could/should be studying under the proposed new English curriculum for Years 7 - 13 students. (The article can be found if you click the link above).
What surprised me was finding a reference to the first Pasifika play that I first wrote back in 1994 when I was a fledging English teacher in a South Auckland high school.
What got me jumping for joy was that it was considered in the drama category for Year 9 - 10 students in the Drama category next to William Shakepeare's "Macbeth". This was a play that I had taught back in high school and to see it alongside an internationally esteemed writer was a real big deal for me (over the moon to say the least!).
During the COVID Pandemic, I had read an article from English teachers that the play had been mentioned as recommended for Year 10 Drama (earlier blog). That in itself was a boost for me as a writer in the play being recognized having merit to teach in high schools (which hadn't been my initial intention).
As I had written that book in defiance in having watched a local school's theatre production by a Pasifika teacher on an English/European fairy tale at a mainly Māori and Pasifika high school. Although it was nicely produced, it got me started on writing six other full-length productions relating to Māori and Pasifika themes, authentic storylines and main characters.
It was the first Pasifika play that I then Indie published in 2015 and followed by four others with another two more to publish. It's now the 10th anniversary of the publishing of that first book and receiving acknowledgement is a cherry on top.
I will now be releasing an updated second edition for those schools to be re-launched later in the year for those who are interested in teaching it to their students. I did write a few of my then jokes for the play as in knowing my audience, I wanted them to laugh along in knowing that there were some of the hard-hitting themes that I was writing about...
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