Poetry II

If Benjamin Zeffiniah and John Cooper Clarke headed as leading lights in Gove's masterplan, I'd be well behind him.
As the attached article suggests, this is about as likely as Gove disclosing his personal tax losses.

I had a postive experience of literature in general at school, as well as poetry. But I have to say it may have been because I already enjoyed poetry, in fact alot the other students in my class were, I think, put off of poetry due to way it was forced on them as something that would get them a grade. We were not encouraged to read poetry or any other literature outside of class, which could have gave them more of a personal enjoyment.

Great article. I have to say, I did have a very positive experience with poetry in school (only 3 years ago since I left). We did have to memorise parts of Chaucer's 'The Pardoner's Tale' which, at the time, I very much resented. It was difficult and seemingly irrelevant to my own life. However, 3 years on, 'The Pardoner's Tale' is the one section of 'The Canterbury Tales' that I still read and learn from.

Also, one of our modules was on Irish Poetry. That's where I stumbled across the glorious works of Paddy Kavanagh, who to this day is my favourite poet. In fact, so positive was my experience with that poetry module that I studied it in my spare time, which thankfully resulted in full marks in my poetry exam at A-level.

So, for me, the current education system worked out pretty well. At the same time, I cannot say the same for my classmates. While I enjoyed the module, I'm still not sure whether it was taught well. I quite agree with Simon Armitage when it comes to the possibility of returning the 'traditional values' in teaching English.

My interest in poetry was ignited by reading 'A Sane Revolution' by D.H.Lawrence which was printed on the sleeve of a Mott The Hoople album. I carted the LP into school, read the poem, and Miss Hall, our wonderful teacher, told me it was a brilliant choice. My passion for social commentary was ignited. Almost 40 years later i'm a teacher who uses John Cooper Clarke in order to ignite the imaginations of Year 7 students. The wheel has turned full circle.

If I'd had John Cooper Clarke, or John Hegley, or Benjamin Zephaniah... or anyone at all like that to read when I was at school...

No... I can honestly say that I don't remember doing any poetry at school at all. My introduction came via Spike Milligan's nonsense verse, which led to limericks. Also, in the '70s, the Daily Mirror used to have a poetry corner every day, with a poem selected by Kingsley Amis - including his brief description of what it was about. I always read that when dad had finished with the paper, and that kind of got me interested. Chaucer and Shakespeare, though... nope. Not until I got to uni at 28. I must have been the only fresher who knew Hamlet only as a cigar by Benson and Hedges...

Come to think of it, I don't remember doing much reading at school at all. At secondary, we read Steinbeck's 'The Pearl' and Tolkien's 'The Hobbit', both of which failed to interest me. The only other book I remember came in my final year. That was 'A Kestrel For A Knave' by Barry Hines. That book ignited something. That talked about people and places I knew. It felt 'relevant'. At the time, it was what I needed.

'A Kestrel For A Knave' is an excellent read. I remember discovering it years ago. A few months back, I saw it was on in the theatre (Titled 'Kes') and felt privileged to experience that same wonderful story on the stage. I agree, Stan, it somewhat 'ignites' something within the reader, and that something was resurrected within me then. Loved it!

I think my very first short story, written when I was about 19, was influenced by that book - all the microscopic little details he goes into. Mine was a sad, dreary tale about a boy who goes home from school to the council flat where his alcoholic dad entertains a string of prostitutes (his mum is dead). When I'd finished it, I sent it to 'Woman's Own'. They didn't publish it. It pays to research your market.

Mostly Scottish poets, Edwin Morgan, Norman McCaig, Liz Lochhead and, ofcourse, Robert Burns.

In Scotland, celebration of literature is usually a veiled form of saltire-waving.

Poetry where you recognise yourself, where there's something that fits but you don't know why it fits, and you know that it's made you different as a person and wiser for it, is worth looking at. Learning something vaguely by rote because it's classical means nothing. They tried to do that to us at university when all I was thinking about was the opposite sex...

When I had English Literature in Grade 9, around 14 years of age, I really, really enjoyed reading John Masefield, John Donne, and others. In Grade 12 I took North American Literature and liked Raymond Souster, e.e. cummings, and others. I had my first two poems published in our 1961 School Annual. But did not begin to write much poetry until the 90's. All the best in your own reading and writing. Richard LP

Richard L. Provencher

Gove's also talking about things like going back to learning the times table by rote. Rote learning is rot learning. It isn't based on understanding. My mental arithmetic is pretty good compared to many people I know... but I couldn't recite a times table to save my life! (Okay... the 1x and the 10x are easy enough...)

My love of poetry both active and passive was nurtured by both my schools. My inner city primary school in a poor rough part of SE London encouraged writing and some of my poems were written about in the Times when I was 10. At Grammar school we often had to learn great poems by heart which I feel has stood me in good stead on several levels all my life. How can having a head full of poetry be a bad thing? I enjoyed being a member of a choral verse speaking group which performed regularly at school and entered (and won) competitions. I wonder if this particular art form still exists?
Linda