11/12/2007 Culture, Science, Education and Media
Colloquy on the teaching of European literature
Strasbourg, 11.12.2007 -“Political leaders are responsible for ensuring that culture is handed down to future generations at school. It is therefore essential to promote the teaching of major examples of European literature in senior secondary schools and all study courses” said Jacques Legendre (France, EPP/CD), Chair of the PACE Committee on Culture, Science and Education, at the opening of a colloquy on the teaching of European literature being held by the Committee at the French Senate.
According to Mr Legendre, who believes that “reading helps people to live”, the largest possible number of Europeans should be made aware of the existence of great European literature. “There is no such thing as ivory tower literature” he said. “It is up to teachers, authors, publishers, translators and computer experts to show the way in disseminating and exchanging great works of literature and making them accessible in all the languages spoken across the European continent”.
The debates at the colloquy focused on the legitimacy of the concept of European literature and its limits, respect for linguistic diversity of languages, the role of translation in giving people broader access to literature, the need for appropriate, individually adapted teaching methods, the role of publishing, and the ways in which new technologies can be used to facilitate access to all European literature. The colloquy is a first step towards the adoption of a PACE recommendation in 2008, which might take the form of a manifesto.