Schuyler Waynforth

A pamphlet has been put out by a number of British authors through the
National Centre for Language and Literacy that you can buy here:
http://www.ncll.org.uk/20_books/20_our_publications/20_our_publications/40-resources/view_publication_html?mainID=38480

Apparently authors including Philip Pullman, Quentin Blake, Jamila
Gavin, Michael Rosen, Jacqueline Wilson and Bernard Ashley are up in
arms over having their works used in comprehension exercise. The
Guardian (
http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,5500,1636322,00.html )
quotes Michael Rosen as saying:
"The literacy hour doesn't encourage the idea that books are for you,
that they are yours. It says that they are texts which can be quizzed."

Actually these are both nice quotes as well:

"What we object to is having our books treated as if they are frogs
ready for dissection, when actually they are live frogs," says the
illustrator Blake, who was children's laureate from 1999-2001.

Ashley agrees: "I don't allow my books to be used for comprehension
exercises, and I haven't for 30 years. I write to entertain, and I
won't have any kid sweat over something I wrote to delight."


I like the idea of the authors taking umbrage at having their works
used for something other than pleasure. And, I suppose if I had
written something for the pleasure of others I would be upset as well.

Schuyler