A Case for Comics: Comic Books as a Educational Tool

A Case for Comics: Comic Books as a Educational Tool

by Jerry Whitworth

"It must have been when I was 5, perhaps 6, years of age. I was attending elementary school and earning an F in English. My teacher wanted to hold me back a grade, but my mother pleaded with her to let me pass. Out of desperation, my mother set out to find any medium that would pique my interest into the realm of reading. Inevitably, salvation was found in a pack of comic books that were 3 for $.99 at a corner candy store. Featuring characters I discovered through television, but many more, I certainly became interested in reading (while in time English became my best subject). What may have been a casual act on the part of my parent has in fact opened my eyes to a whole world of possibilities granted to me through the unique medium of comics. However, it would be an understatement to say that many do not share my view of the potential found in this medium."


"Organizations like Organized Readers of Comics Associated (or ORCA) have even rallied with teachers to promote comic book readership. A panel disscussion sponsored by ORCA yielded high school teacher Mary Stronach presenting "...a sample comic book curriculum shes developing to help teachers integrate comics into English, social studies and creative arts classes throughout K-12" (Ezarik 42). In fact, some teachers have even begun publishing comics for education. Jay Hosler, biology professor from Juniata College in Hunting-don, Pa writes comics like The Sandwalk Adventures (2003) and Clan Apis (1998) to teach science. Hosler felt certain complicated elements had to be told in a form like comics, a example he gives is that he once read a book on how samurai swords were made, but was left confused by the explanation (Galley 6)." ~ Jerry Whitworth, A Case for Comics: Comic Books as a Educational Tool.

You can read the Part One and Part Two of Jerry's article on Sequential Tart