‘Poet Michael Rosen’s support for at-risk Chichester College Group staff welcome’

The American poet Amanda Gorman was diagnosed with auditory disorder and speech impediment but, when introduced to poetry by her teacher through writing and recitation, she finally found her voice and a role model in writer Maya Angelou whose autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (which I had the pleasure of teaching at A level) reminded her of her own life helped by an English teacher overcoming years of not speaking up for herself and a love of reading poetry at school.

In the spring of 2017 Amanda Gorman was named America’s first National Youth Poet and four years later found herself performing her visionary poem ‘The Hill We Climb’ for Joe Biden’s inauguration as President of the United States of America.

I left secondary modern school at 16 with no recognised qualifications. I owe 32 years’ teaching English in FE colleges to day and evening O and A-level classes enabling me to study for a degree and qualify as an English lecturer.

Remote virtual screen-learning is no substitute for actual face-to-face experience and the stimulating excitement of classroom interaction.

I owe everything to part-time day and evening classes at college. ‘The Hill’ I climbed must continue to be available for students.