This something of a follow-up to Lynda Waterhouse's post about children's writing. I'm a bit late with this today as I had to go out to MB's sports' day this morning when I was expecting to write my post. It was very much last minute as she'd forgotten to tell us when it was and I was the only person even slightly free to go. It occurred to me as I sat in the scorching sun watching children who didn't really want to be running around, that each summer there is a sports' day, and there is some kind of dramatic performance, but that's it. There is no art exhibition or celebration of children's writing. This is a shame, as writing gets dumped in the bin of academic accomplishments and is never celebrated for itself, as a creative endeavour for the child's pleasure and enrichment.
MB moves up to secondary school in September, so it's a bit late to try to persuade her current school to do anything about it. But I will be looking out for what the secondary school does. How about a pupils' literary festival and art exhibition? Does any school do this? I can't say I've ever come across it. Maybe it happens in the private sector. There are concerts for the musical pupils, and drama, and a ton of sports (of course).
The same is true of the holiday club activities available. There are summer camps that offer arts and crafts, drama, music, sports, bushcraft and survival, but not writing. Perhaps it's not just that writing isn't highlighted as enjoyable in school, but there's not much support outside school hours/days, either. It's quite telling that a lot of professional children's writers haven't heard of National Writing Day, organised by the Literarcy Trust. I certainly hadn't. (25th June 2025, if you're in the UK.) The Literacy Trust also has lots of ideas and resources to help schools develop writing for enjoyment. None, that I can see, mention fanfic, which is one way kids find their way into writing. Maybe I should start up a fanfic summer school....
Out now: Weird and Wonderful Dinosaur Facts, Arcturus 2025, illustrated by Ro Ledesma
4 comments:
A big sigh here! A long time ago, the English Adviser for Hertfordshire set up week-long residential writing courses for children, under the 'Lending Your Mind Out' title. These ran two or three times a year. Primary school teachers and head-teachers nominated one or two of their best, gifted young writers for these weeks. The place was not a prize for the best grammar or handwriting but for a child who had a gift for writing and showed ability and interest.
Each residential course was tutored by four or five published children's authors, who also had experience of working with children. This was very necessary at first, as the tutors often slept in rooms within the same accommodation, and were sometimes faced with homesick or poorly children well after midnight, before pastoral staff were also employed.
The courses took place close to a rich source of 'writing inspiration' nearby - a mix of old buildings, museums and historical sites such as Saffron Walden. The courses were not free, but places were supported by a mix of special grants, parental contributions and school gifted pupil funding. After each course, the tutors produced a course anthology, containing some fo each child's work, and these were sent out to all the young writers, and to the schools involved.
Alas! Centralised curriculum 'rigour', financial cuts and changes, a different emphasis within education, stricter rules over residential child care etc meant that these wonderful opportunities faded away, with some parents seeing the course as remedial or a way of reaching a better level. Nor could the courses stand against the rise and popularity of school 'activity centre' trips for a whole school year group, nor the cost against the demands of money for private school's skiing trips and so on. Writing courses for older pupils, and for secondary school teachers had also, at one time, flourished.
Please note that these 'Lending Your Mind Out' courses were devised and organised by Dennis Hamley, then the County English Adviser, who was a published author himself, is still writing and publishing novels, and is also a fellow Scattered Author.
Recognising the art of writing in schools again would be wonderful, Anne Rooney, and thank you for my dip into happy educational reminiscence. But that was then and this is now, so allow me to repeat that earlier 'Alas!'
Anne you should definitely start up a fanfic Summer School and I echo what Penny says. There are so many possibilities for developing and celebrating writing for enjoyment from creative journaling, scripting scenarios for gaming, lyric writing, graphic novels etc. alongside writing for well-being and developing craft. I wonder if anyone would fund us to pilot an event? A school or a local authority.
If only... worth exploring for next summer, I think! Interestingly, the day after I wrote this post, and without me having mentioned it to her, MB complained that sports' day was the only thing the school did and there was nothing for kids who liked writing and reading and art... So I think there would be an appetite
Yes good idea. Will do some exploring. Everyone takes a Sports' Day as a given and timetables accordingly so why not a RAW day?
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