Why Poetry Recitation Still Matters in 2026

In an era dominated by screens, instant messages, and 280-character thoughts, parents often ask us: "Why do you still require students to memorize and recite poetry?" It's a fair question in our increasingly digital world. At The Country School in Madison, Connecticut, we've been asking our students to do exactly this since 1957 through the MacLane Poetry Recitation, our school’s oldest and most cherished tradition.

My answer is always the same: Because it's precisely the difficulty of this experience that makes it so profoundly valuable.

Poetry recitation requires our students to stretch. Memorization is genuinely hard work. Standing in front of peers, teachers, and parents to recite poetry can be terrifying—not only for children, but for many adults. Sitting quietly as an audience member for extended periods requires patience and self-control that doesn't come naturally to young learners. Offering thoughtful, constructive feedback to classmates demands emotional maturity.

These challenges are not incidental to the MacLane Poetry Recitation. They are the entire point.

Every year, I watch Kindergarten students recite their first poems in small groups, their voices sometimes barely audible, their confidence growing with each word. I observe 4th and 5th Graders building on this foundation through our WTCS Radio Show, learning to project their voices and convey meaning. And I witness our 7th and 8th Graders, now more experienced public speakers, lead school meetings, captain sports teams, and advocate for causes they believe in.

This progression doesn't happen by accident. It happens because we create intentional opportunities for students to practice skills that our digital world increasingly undervalues.

When students memorize and recite poetry at our private school, they develop capabilities that extend far beyond literary appreciation:

They learn to sit with discomfort and move through it. In a world that allows us to skip, scroll, or close any uncomfortable moment, poetry recitation teaches students they can face something difficult and emerge stronger.

They practice sustained focus in an age of distraction. Research shows that our attention spans are shrinking, yet the ability to concentrate deeply remains essential for academic success and meaningful work. Memorizing a poem, really internalizing its rhythm, meaning, and emotion, requires the kind of deep focus that builds cognitive stamina.

They strengthen the skill of deep listening. When students serve as audience members during the MacLane Recitation, they're not passive observers. They're learning to listen to language, to meaning, and to one another with attention and respect.

They develop resilience through safe failure. Students forget lines. They stumble over words. They restart. And crucially, they learn that making mistakes in front of a supportive community is not catastrophic, it's simply part of learning.

They build courage and confidence that translate across contexts. The student who conquers stage fright at age seven is better prepared for Middle School presentations, secondary school interviews, and eventually college and career opportunities.

The proof of this approach appears in tangible outcomes. Country School students use their communication skills in remarkable ways:

In Model UN competitions, students take on the role of delegates from other countries, engaging in debate, collaboration, and persuasive discussions as they work to resolve global issues ranging from gender inequality and the refugee crisis to controlling hate speech online and climate change. A 6th Grader was recently awarded best delegate at one such event.

In robotics competitions, fully a quarter of the team's score depends on how students treat judges with respect, acknowledge opponents for good work, listen attentively to instructions, and collaborate with one another. Our Robotics Team won an award for oral presentation and communication at the state championship, where they also presented their innovation project, describing a self-identified problem in the world and proposing a solution, Shark Tank-style.

In secondary school and college admissions, students serve as ambassadors for our school and advocate for themselves during competitive interviews, drawing on years of practice speaking confidently to adult audiences.

In community service initiatives, students use their voices to organize food pantry collections, gather donations for Ronald McDonald House, lead clothing drives, and advocate for causes through their outside sports teams, religious communities, and local organizations.

In Spanish language competitions, students demonstrate that public speaking skills transcend language barriers. Two students recently won first and third place at a regional Spanish spelling bee.

Alumni consistently tell me that the confidence they developed through programs like the MacLane Recitation prepared them for job interviews, leadership opportunities, and moments when they needed to advocate for themselves or others.

Perhaps most important, poetry recitation teaches empathy in ways that digital interactions simply cannot replicate. When students stand nervously before their peers, every audience member understands exactly how that feels. They've been there. This shared vulnerability creates genuine community bonds. 

Learning to be a respectful, supportive audience member is as important as learning to be a confident speaker. Students practice honoring another person's effort and courage. They learn to be quiet for someone else's sake. These are fundamentally human skills that our children will need throughout their lives.

Every spring, when I watch our Middle Schoolers compete in the juried MacLane Poetry Recitation, I'm reminded why this almost 70-year tradition remains central to our curriculum. Yes, it's sometimes excruciating. Yes, it's difficult. But that's exactly why it works.

On our 22-acre campus in Connecticut's shoreline community, we're committed to providing experiences that develop the whole child: mind, body, and character. The MacLane Poetry Recitation exemplifies this commitment. It's not just about poetry. It's about building humans who can face challenges, support one another, and use their voices to make a difference.

And that will always matter, especially now.