Kids, Critics and the Courage of Kate Clanchy
In 2019, the iPaper published an extract from Kate Clanchy’s then-celebrated book Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me. At that time, it received little criticism, but today it would likely face strong backlash.
The title itself — “what I learned from teaching in a unit landing troubled children too disruptive for school classrooms” — would probably cause outrage due to its harsh implication about the children.
Challenging Descriptions of Children
Clanchy’s descriptions are blunt and unflattering: “They don’t look well,” she writes, “Often, they don’t even look young.” Simon is said to have premature wrinkles on his forehead, Dave a middle-aged belly, and the girls resemble middle-aged mothers queuing “defeated and harmless” in the Co-op.
After portraying such passivity, Clanchy adds a striking contrast, asserting these students are far from harmless:
“Each one of these kids has the power to end learning in any mainstream classroom at any time, and each of their powers, as always in a gathering of superheroes, is different.”
The Role of Risk in Writing
Writers, Clanchy suggests, must be willing to take risks—even at the cost of angering or upsetting others. Her controversial portrayal exemplifies this courage.
Author's summary: Kate Clanchy’s work pushes boundaries by presenting troubled children’s complexities candidly, highlighting the power and risks involved in honest storytelling.
Would you like the summary to be more formal or conversational?