Making the Good Reader and Citizen

The History of Literature Instruction in American Schools

“Making the Good Reader and Citizen” is a 2-week Summer Institute for Teachers sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities and hosted online by the University of Texas, El Paso.

Co-Directed by Jonna Perrillo of UTEP and Andrew Newman of Stony Brook University, this institute will examine K-12 educators’ and school reformers’ changing conceptions of what constitutes a “good reader” across the twentieth century. To do so, we will trace two competing traditions in reading instruction: one emphasizes the role of literature in the student’s social, moral, and civic development; the other values skill-development and sees literature as a pathway to scientific, self-disciplined thinking that is also vital to the civic good. These tensions matter more today than ever. In developing a deeper understanding of this history, participating teachers will prepare to serve as stronger school leaders and more effective and creative practitioners.

APPLY BY MARCH 6, 2026.

To learn more, read a more detailed program description, meet the project team, and check out the presentations, workshops and publications involving project team members and participants in the 2021 and 2023 versions of the program. We welcome inquiries from prospective applicants, but please review the Apply page first.

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