Your application is seriously good, Polly. It would give a normal selection panel goosebumps. I am so angry that they could also be impressed but decide not to interview you, in the woolly and vague interest of balance. This willingness to put quality and integrity second to a very modern idea of virtue is very worrying. Well done on taking them on. You would have been brilliant in that role. ♥️ Think I am going to re-read Tiger in Gran Canaria in the summer. 🐅
Thank you so much for this Gayle. And what you say about the application. It's bewildering so it's great to have an outside voice reflect back. I am absolutely thrilled you're thinking of a re-read of Tiger. xxx
I think you dodged a bullet there Polly; students accepted for admission to the Poetry School may be very fragile and exposure to forthright opinions may have been quite frightening. I sit on the board of many not for profit arts organisations and we are routinely required to undertake 'Cultural Awareness' training. I have worked for over 40 years with Aboriginal men and women in remote communities so I don't need any lectures on cultural awareness. Still, you complete the initial questionnaire:
Have you ever been subject to racial abuse?
Yes, when I was in primary school I called a "pommy bastard"
Do you acknowledge any privilege and if you do describe the nature of that privilege
Yes, I was privileged to have been taught that you respect others.
Your application is seriously good, Polly. It would give a normal selection panel goosebumps. I am so angry that they could also be impressed but decide not to interview you, in the woolly and vague interest of balance. This willingness to put quality and integrity second to a very modern idea of virtue is very worrying. Well done on taking them on. You would have been brilliant in that role. ♥️ Think I am going to re-read Tiger in Gran Canaria in the summer. 🐅
Thank you so much for this Gayle. And what you say about the application. It's bewildering so it's great to have an outside voice reflect back. I am absolutely thrilled you're thinking of a re-read of Tiger. xxx
I think you dodged a bullet there Polly; students accepted for admission to the Poetry School may be very fragile and exposure to forthright opinions may have been quite frightening. I sit on the board of many not for profit arts organisations and we are routinely required to undertake 'Cultural Awareness' training. I have worked for over 40 years with Aboriginal men and women in remote communities so I don't need any lectures on cultural awareness. Still, you complete the initial questionnaire:
Have you ever been subject to racial abuse?
Yes, when I was in primary school I called a "pommy bastard"
Do you acknowledge any privilege and if you do describe the nature of that privilege
Yes, I was privileged to have been taught that you respect others.
Not the answers they wanted...
It’s true that I would be unable to pander to the students. That might have caused problems …