Creative Writing in Schools: History, Poetry, Writers and Children

This book explores the evolution of creative writing instruction in schools, tracing its roots from classical rhetoric to progressive educational theories. It examines four approaches to teaching creative writing and raises concerns about the neglect of creativity in modern education systems. It also explores the impact of new media on creative production and modes of writing.

Format: Hardback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the evolving approaches to creativity in the classroom, focusing on history, language, and the child as a writer. It explores the teaching of creative writing within the broader context of intellectual history, tracing the notion that students should engage in creative learning from the teaching of classical rhetoric in Tudor grammar schools to the philosophies of Comenius and Pestalozzi, and the progressive educational theories of Montessori and Dewey. The book specifically concentrates on the development of creative writing as a significant component of literary and literacy education in schools during the second half of the twentieth century. It examines four distinct approaches to the theory and practice of creative writing teaching, namely Ted Hughes' Poetry in the Making, Kenneth Koch's Wishes, Lies and Dreams, Sandy Brownjohn's Does it Have to Rhyme?, and Michael Rosen's Did I Hear You Write?

The book also critically examines the neglect of creativity in the current systems of performance targets, league tables, training, and testing. It raises important questions about the potential banishment of creativity and enjoyment in writing and reading from European, North American, and Antipodean classrooms. Additionally, the book explores the implications of new media on creative production and new modes of writing, considering how institutions shape and constrain childhood creativity, as well as how children respond and shape their own sense of creativity.

Overall, this book provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the dynamics of creativity in the classroom, offering valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and students alike.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780415823036