Spreading the literary word across Java

Spreading the literary word across Java

By Sori Siregar

JAKARTA (JP): As we all know, literature has been poorly
taught in our schools for decades. The lack of knowledgeable
teachers is said to be one of main reasons for this. What also
doesn't help matters any is that the time given to teaching
literature is inadequate since it is considered to be only one
small aspect of language teaching.

In practice, a language teacher -- with a poor knowledge of
literature -- who teaches literature to his or her students,
demands very little from them. Memorize a few names, dates,
literary references, skim through a few stories and poems, etc..

Thus, it is understandable why the importance of literature
has fallen so dramatically in the eyes of our nation's students.
It is also understandable why most students find it difficult to
write something as simple as a letter or term paper, let alone a
poem or work of fiction.

Realizing this, Yayasan Indonesia and literary magazine
Horison, sponsored by the Ford Foundation, embarked on a literary
tour of West Java, Central Java, and Yogyakarta provinces -- Feb.
21 through April 22. The main purpose of the tour was to
introduce Indonesian writers to as many students as possible.
They hit 30 high schools in 20 towns in three provinces.

After being introduced to the students, the writers read their
works, told the students about the process of writing them and
then answered questions. For the organizer, this was one
significant way in which to foster an appreciation of Indonesian
and world literature.

Among the 43 noted writers who joined the tour were big names
such as WS Rendra, Sutardji Calzoum Bachri, Taufiq Ismail,
Sapardi Djoko Damono, NH Dini, Toto Sudarto Bachtiar, Toety
Heraty, Ayu Utami, Danarto, Emha Ainun Nadjib, Seno Gumira
Ajidarma and Abdul Hadi WM.

The tour began at Cipasung, Tasikmalaya, then moved on to
Bandung, Solo (Surakarta), Purwokerto, Wonosobo, Yogyakarta,
Magelang, Salatiga, Semarang, Rembang, Pekalongan, Tegal,
Cirebon, Majalengka and ended in Sukabumi.

What was surprising was that the seminars -- which were meant
to go on for only two hours -- usually ran longer.

In Majalengka, for instance, it took four hours for the
writers to answer students' questions.

Though most of the students had very little knowledge of
literature, many had become acquainted with fiction and poetry
through newspapers and magazines. They asked very critical
questions of the writers.

In a reading at SMA Negeri I, Cirebon -- in which I also
participated -- a student suggested to poet Rendra that he should
be grateful to the New Order regime because his popularity had
been enhanced by its censorship of him. In response, Rendra told
the student about his experiences -- the repression he faced,
etc. It was not a pretty picture. He also said that he had been
popular long before the New Order came to power.

In the seminars at Tegal and Cirebon, the distinguished Dutch
poet Remco Kampert also joined the Indonesian writers. He read
his poems and explained the creative process of writing through
his interpreter, Rendra.

The literary tour was warmly received by the Minister of
National Education Yahya Muhaimin who attended the closing
seminar in Sukabumi. He said he hoped the program would continue,
reaching out to even more remote areas and villages in Indonesia.