Literary folklore is a very important part of every nation's past, its memory. If the past is not recorded or published, it is as if it had never existed. The younger generations are our future and we have to impart to them the need to preserve and pass on this tradition to their descendants, but this is difficult in an urban environment. For this reason the study of literary folklore deserves to be included in our school system. Very little space was given over to literary folklore in eight-year primary schooling: it was dealt with only as discussion of some folk songs and tales within the subject Slovene language. With the shift to nine-year primary schooling, we gained the new optional subject school journalism, within which literary folklore can be the subject of a third of lessons. Project work is a suitable method, which makes fieldwork possible. Through practical work, pupils come into contact with literary folklore even in the urban environment. They experience it, connect with it and in this way become more rooted. Nevertheless, the integration of an optional subject itself is not enough to successfully develop a positive attitude and respect for literary folklore. A nation that appreciates its roots, its language and culture has to provide opportunities for children to come into contact with the folklore tradition and to devote more time to developing this discipline. The content of the subject school journalism ought to be accessible to all pupils and the study of literary folklore should be integrated into other subjects which would facilitate an interdisciplinary approach to teaching.
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