Thursday 12 December 2019

Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me by Kate Clanchy - Reviewed by Kelly McCaughrain

This is an unusual choice for a review site about children’s books, but I think it’s relevant for anyone who works with kids (as children’s writers often do) and I can’t recommend the book highly enough.



Kate Clanchy is a poet and novelist who has been shortlisted/won, among other things, the Forward Poetry Prize, BBC National Short Story Award and the Costa Book Awards for her first novel. She is also a teacher and this latest book is a non-fiction account of her experience of teaching English and creative writing in the British education system and working in some of its more ‘difficult’ schools (the ones no one wants to send their kids to, but that she did send her kids to because she’s that committed to them).

It’s organised into short sections under the (changed) names of some of her students, so it’s really a collection of stories, making it very readable, but it’s also an absolutely mind-blowing and fascinating insight into the experiences of kids in modern education.

Things have changed in schools since we were there. In Northern Ireland, where I live, that’s particularly true. One of the many unpleasant hangovers of The Troubles was that no one wanted to emigrate to NI until about 1998. There was very little diversity. To this day a ‘mixed marriage’ in NI means Catholic/Protestant. In my entire (quite large) high school, when I left in 1996, there was one person of colour in my year. Three in the whole school, and two of them were siblings. I’m not even exaggerating. The lack of diversity was incredible. And no one was ‘out’, there was no ‘inclusion unit’, no special educational needs provision, no school counsellor, and everyone spoke perfect English.  

Schools are just different now, and if you’re writing for kids, writing with kids, or working with kids in any way, this book is a really helpful insight, as well as being a good read.

A lot of Clanchy’s students come from ethnic minorities, often immigrants, refuges and asylum seekers, and the accounts of the things they bring to their education, the difficulties they face there and the ways they find to overcome these (or the times they don’t) are shocking, heart-breaking, inspirational and completely fascinating. How does a white middle-class Scottish woman communicate with a twelve year old who’s come to the UK with very little English having witnessed her three sisters blown up? Or seen a human head roll down the street after a terrorist bomb?

For Clanchy, the answer, as well as empathy, patience, kindness, unstinting dedication, hard work, and a willingness to take on the system if necessary, is poetry. Which will sound trite to many people but just read the book and see how it worked.

She has been leading poetry groups for her students for many years and the book is packed with insights about this that are so helpful if you do any creative writing with kids. But I feel like, if you work in schools at all, you should read this.

The insights into how our education system is massively failing in terms of minorities, special educational needs and social-class are eye-opening. Her views on the teaching of creative subjects are especially relevant with falling numbers of students taking up A Level English and changes to the curriculum making less room for creativity. And her passion for the hugely important job teachers do, and their potential to do so much more if only the curriculum weren’t so constricting is refreshing too and I’d definitely recommend this as a Christmas present for all your teacher friends.

Though it’s clear that her priority is telling the kids’ stories, rather than dazzling you with her metaphors, she’s a writer, so it’s of course beautifully written. It’s a book you can rocket through in the best page-turning sense, but also one you’ll have to stop and take a breath over because the stories are so revealing and affecting.

Philip Pullman said it’s “The best book on teachers and children and writing that I’ve ever read.” And I’m sure he’s right. I could write several blog posts about the things I’ve taken away from this book but this is just a short review so you’ll have to go read it and find out for yourself!


Kelly McCaughrain is the author of the Children's Books Ireland Book of the Year,


She is the Children's Writing Fellow for Northern Ireland and blogs about running creative writing groups for teens at The Blank Page

@KMcCaughrain

#CWFNI 


 




Return to REVIEWS HOMEPAGE

11 comments:

Ann Turnbull said...

I've never been a teacher, but I loved this book, and agree with everything you say about it, Kelly.

Kelly McCaughrain said...

Thanks Ann, it's great, isn't it!

Anonymous said...

DR EMU WHO HELP PEOPLE IN ANY TYPE OF LOTTERY NUMBERS
It is a very hard situation when playing the lottery and never won, or keep winning low fund not up to 100 bucks, i have been a victim of such a tough life, the biggest fund i have ever won was 100 bucks, and i have been playing lottery for almost 12 years now, things suddenly change the moment i came across a secret online, a testimony of a spell caster called dr emu, who help people in any type of lottery numbers, i was not easily convinced, but i decided to give try, now i am a proud lottery winner with the help of dr emu, i won $1,000.0000.00 and i am making this known to every one out there who have been trying all day to win the lottery, believe me this is the only way to win the lottery.

Contact him on email Emutemple@gmail.com
What's app +2347012841542
Https://emutemple.wordpress.com/
Https://web.facebook.com/Emu-Temple-104891335203341

Anonymous said...

I have never seen a miracle like this in my entire life.
My husband left me and my 5 year old boy for over 9 months,
I was so traumatized and frustrated, because of the love I have for my husband I seeked for help from different places to bring him back to me but there was no difference. Until my mother introduced me to ( DR DAWN) this doctor promised me that my husband will come back to me in 48 hours after I explained everything to him, and to my greatest surprise my husband called me after 48 hours and was begging me to forgive him that he will never leave me again, all thanks to Dr DAWN because for over 3 year's now I have been happy with my husband and he treats me like a queen,
Contact DR DAWN, if you have any kind of problem.

*TO GET BACK YOUR LOVER.
*TO RECONCILE
*TO GET PREGNANT
*TO CURE CANCER
*TO REVENGE
*TO PROMOTE BUSINESS
*TO GET BACK YOUR MONEY/PROPERTY
*TO CURE HIV/AIDS OR OTHER SICKNESS.
Contact him: dawnacuna314@gmail.com
Whatsapp: +2349046229159

Anonymous said...

Every one deserves to be happy in their family or relationships, I was lucky enough to get my husband back , Doctor Robbinson helped me he is authentic , My Husband left me for 8 months and I was devastated and couldn't find any way out to get him back i tried all ways. At some point I was depressed, while i was reading through some post on the internet where people testified about how Dr Robbinson helped them Solve similiar problems I contacted him and he never hesitated to help me as well, My husband is back home, my happiness is restored
Text/call: +12267705795
Email: Drrobbinssonspiritualhome@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/drrobbinson

Sarah J. said...

Best children’s story book website.

Ashley Jacqueline said...

My husband and I have been married for about 7 yrs now. We were happily married with two kids, a boy and a girl. 3 months ago, I started to notice some strange behavior from him and a few weeks later I found out that my husband is seeing someone. He started coming home late from work, he hardly cared about me or the kids anymore, Sometimes he goes out and doesn't even come back home for about 2-3 days. I did all I could to rectify this problem but all to no avail. I became very worried and needed help. As I was browsing through the Internet one day, I came across a website that suggested that Dr OKU can help solve marital problems, restore broken relationships and so on. So, I felt I should give him a try. I contacted him and he did a spell for me. Two days later, my husband came to me and apologized for the wrongs he did and promised never to do it again. Ever since then, everything has returned back to normal. My family and I are living together happily again.. All thanks to Dr OKU. If you need a spell caster that can cast a spell that truly works, I suggest you contact him. He will not disappoint you. This is his Email: (okutemple@gmail.com or +2348163425519

Business HUB Blog said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

SSN DOB DL FULLZ (USA)
SIN DOB FULLZ (CANADA)
NIN DOB SORT CODE FUJLLZ (UK)
YOUNG AGE FULLZ 2002 & ABOVE

HIGH CREDIT SCORES PROS 700+
CC WITH CVV (USA|UK|CANADA|RU)

DL/ID FRONT & BACK WITH SELFIE
PASSPORT PHOTOS
USA|UK|CANADA ID's

BUSINESS EIN COMPANY FULLZ
CLONING CARD DUMPS TRACK 101 & 202

SPECIFIC FULLZ OF EACH STATE|ZIPCODE|CITY|GENDER|AGE
KYC & TAX RETUN FILLING FULLZ
SBA|PUA|UI|UBEREATS|DOORDASH ACOOUNTS OPENING FULLZ

All type of Fullz|Leads|Pros are available
Very fresh spammed & Legit info
Invalid & used info will be replaced|No Refund
Payment option only Digital & Crypto Currency

*Hit me up here for deals & discounts

@killhacks / @leadsupplier > Telegram
752822040 / @killhacks > ICQ
bigbull0334 @ onion mail . org > Email
@peeterhacks > Skype

Anonymous said...

Hello Everyone

What's up Guys

*Fresh Fullz are available now
*USA UK CANADA ALL States available
*Updated Fullz 2024
*Legit & Verified Info
*Spammed from reliable resources
*If anything appears bad, wrong or invalid will be replaced
*Payment in any crypto currency will be acceptable

For order & more details about Fullz|Pros|Info
Feel free to contact us here

(at)killhacks : (at)leadsupplier : T3l3 Gram
752822040 : (at)killhacks : I C Q
(at)peeterhacks : Skyp3
hacksp007 (at) DNMX . org

Stuff Available:

SSN DOB DL ADDRESS USA
SIN DOB ADDRESS CANADA
NIN DOB DL ADDRESS SORT CODE UK
Real ID|DL Front & Back with selfie & SSN
Passport Photos with Selfie
High Credit Scores Fullz|Pros
Business EIN Company Fullz
Young Age Fullz 2002 above
SBA|PUA|UI|TAX Return Filling Fullz Info
UBEREATS|DOORDASH|KYC Stuff available
Asian Id's Front back with selfie

You can get specific info as well
(Gender|Age|City|State|ZIP|Bank Info)
Never used Stuff will be provided

Carding|Spamming|Hacking|Scripting Stuff available
CC with CVV
Dumps Track 101 & 202 with Pins
Carding Tutorials (Pdf|Videos)
Loan Methods|Cash Out Methods

Each stuff available in bulk quantity
Market competitive price
Ping us if you need anything

Anonymous said...

Here we're providing Fresh USA UK CANADA Fullz|Pros|leads|Info

Everything will be provided fresh & legit
Bad Stuff will be replace immediately
100% Guaranteed stuff
Verified & Genuine

Contact Me Here>

- (at)killhacks - 752822040 - I C Q
- (at)killhacks - (at)leadsupplier - T3l3Gram
- (at)peeterhacks - Skyp3
- bigbull0334 (at) DNMX . org

Fullz Format:

USA: Fname|Lname|SSN|DOB|DLNUMBER|DLSTATE|ADDRESS|CITY|STATE|ZIP|PHONE|EMPLOYEE&BANKINFO

UK: Fname|Lname|NIN|DOB|DLNUMBER|SIRTCODE|ADDRESS|CITY|STATE|ZIP|EMAIL|PHONE

CANADA: Fname|Lname|SIN|DOB|ADDRESS|CITY|STATE|ZIP|MMN|EMAIL|PHONE

Real Fresh ID|DL front back with selfie & ssn USA
Real Front|back with Selfie DL|ID UK|CANADA|RUS|GERMANY|FRANCE|..ETC
Business EIN Company Fullz
High Credit scores Pros USA|Canada
Young & Old Age Fullz (USA|UK|CANADA)
UBEREATS|DOORDASH & KYC Info available for opening accounts
SBA|PUA|UI|Tax Return Filling Fullz
Car Databases USA|Doctor Databases USA
Children Fullz USA 2002-2015 Age

Many Other USA|UK|CANADA Stuff available
Feel free to contact us
Will provide you filling stuff as well
Loan Methods & Carding Methods are also available
Tools & Tutorials for Hacking|Spamming|Carding|Scripting stuff
Waiting to hear from you guy's

Here I'm

- (at)killhacks - 752822040 - I C Q
- (at)killhacks - (at)leadsupplier - T3l3Gram
- (at)peeterhacks - Skyp3

Post a Comment