the wooden shack

I enjoyed reading Hull & Ross reading, because it is a clue as to how the student Robert arrived at his own interpretations about the poem. This study  will be helpful when I teach reading a poem or any other genre. The following is an example of how not to teach:

           "...  the laudable goal is facilitating under prepared students' entry                into the  academic community community is actually
           compromised by a conversational pattern that channels students
           like Robert into a more "efficient" discourse. The desire for
           efficiency and coverage can cut short numerous possibilities
           for students to explore... --all necessary for good writing to emerge"

There's a tension/conflict between good writing and participation in intellectual work. Ironically, what teachers are trained to teach, and their goal oriented behavior can sometimes interfere with a student's intellectual development, because it blocks the student's need to arrive at an understanding at his own pace and in his own way.

In this process between Hull and Robert, both the teacher and student will influence each other. Hull is forced to remain open and consider Robert's interpretation, whether or not he agrees with Rob's conclusion. This is important, because Rob has to go through his own learning process in order to develop to the point where he will be intellectually independent. He will be able to read the poem and come to a sound interpretation by himself, and I strongly believe this should be the "real" goal of education.  The teacher's goal should not be to impose his point of view on his students, but provide content and a context in which ss will learn to think for themselves.

This said, I know this is the ideal goal with which good teacher's struggle, and perhaps with time the forces against them will ease enough so that it will be possible for this goal to be realized.