Subject: TDR and teaching Canadian literature

February 28, 2003

Mr. Bryson:

We've emailed back and forth for a few months: I'd like to give you some feedback for your site, as I've just finished using it as a resource for three senior level English and Writer's Craft classes I teach.

First of all, please let me say that I enjoy your site. It is easy to navigate and designed wonderfully: simple and has a professional feel to it. As a resource for Canadian Literature - which I try and include as much of in my class as possible - it is invaluable.

Most of the stories you publish are stimulating and meet with enthusiasm by my reluctant readers/students. As they had to read the stories, I was grateful your site publishes online: no texts to buy, no books to collect at the end of the unit, either. Some stories, I'm sorry to admit, met with disapproval by some parents concerned with what their children were reading. Any censorship issues I handled myself, quite happy that even one parent took an interest in what their children were reading.

One thing I'd like to point out to you: Danforthreview.com has limited resources for the teaching of Canadian Literature, and does not have a section of web published fiction suitable for Junior and Intermediate grades (some of the stories presented had adult content - something with which parents, school administrators and lawyers for both take umbrage). 

Please, I'd like you reinforce the fact that I really enjoy using your site - but like you, would like it to be better. I'm hoping that you take any feedback from me as merely ideas to bounce off of people around you. Keep up the great work!

Sincerely,

Mark Chesser