Will power: The Bard endures

Whether you realise it or not, you’ve probably quoted William Shakespeare this week.

Maybe you haven’t slept a wink, were sent on a wild goose chase, or had to be cruel to be kind – all of these phrases (and many more) have their origins in his plays.

After reports suggesting Shakespeare is no longer taught in some New Zealand schools, it appears the Bard remains a must-read for many Kiwi students.

Tania Hawes, head of English at Christchurch’s Riccarton High School and chair of the Canterbury English Teachers’ Association, said that although Shakespeare’s plays were no longer compulsory, they were still widely studied.

‘‘It’s taught slightly differently to what it once was – we tend to look at context and perspective far more than just dealing with it as a tale. That’s how we bring it alive for our students.’’

It would ‘‘theoretically’’ be possible for a student to complete their secondary education without reading any Shakespeare, she said, as teachers selected books or plays depending on the class.

‘‘The teachers choose text that they believe their students will respond best to.’’

At Christchurch’s Hornby High School, students have studied A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, The Merchant of Venice and Twelfth Night.

Principal Robin Sutton said most were read in full ‘‘for the beauty of the language’’ or ‘‘in a modern idiom’’. ‘‘To suggest Shakespeare has died in New Zealand is patently false, we are proof that it’s alive and well,’’ he said.

Associate professor Shef Rogers, who teaches at University of Otago’s department of English and linguistics, said Shakespeare remained ‘‘our richest source in English of insights about human nature’’.

At Wellington’s Rongotai College, Shakespeare is studied in year 9-13 English classes.

‘‘His works have rich language and universal messages,’’ principal Kevin Carter said. ‘‘We believe we would short-change our students if we didn’t offer them the chance to meet and read the world’s greatest writer.’’