Ohio Poetry Association Blog

In a recent article in The Atlantic , titled,   “Why Teaching Poetry is so Important,” Andrew Simmons wrote, "Poetry enables teachers to teach their students how to write, read, and understand any text. Poetry can give students a healthy outlet for surging emotions. Reading original poetry aloud in class can foster trust and empathy in the classroom community, while also emphasizing speaking and listening skills that are often neglected in high school literature classes. ” Sara Abou Rashed, OPA Grand Prize winner in the 2014-15  contests reads  her poetry at the annual picnic. Sara is from  Centennial High School.  Her teacher was Sarah E. Barry. The Ohio Poetry Association has long recognized the value of encouraging young people to participate in poetry.   For the past thirty-three years, we have been sponsoring an annual student poetry contest. This year’s contest brings opportunities for prizes and publication across ten categor...