In-class writing is generally dominated by analysis and argumentative structures. English teachers Janet Kelley and Sophie Gorlin hope for a change and an emphasis on creative writing.
Kelley and Gorlin hoped to create a multi-year English creative writing course. Their vision was rooted in the belief that the high school needs more space for written student creativity. The two planned and drafted, but ultimately were not able to secure the necessary grant from the Brookline High School Innovation Fund to support their idea.
Gorlin, who co-wrote the proposal with Kelley, explained that the goal was to build a program largely modeled after the high school’s journalism program, with both introductory and more advanced writing classes.
“We’ve put a pitch to the Innovation Fund, a group in Brookline that awards grants to teachers starting new, innovative classes,” Gorlin said.
The proposed structure included courses open to sophomores, juniors and seniors, in contrast to the current creative writing class, Craft of Writing, which is only open to seniors, Gorlin said.
“Right now, Craft [of Writing] is an introductory class and it’s the only [creative writing class] offered at the school,” Gorlin said. “We want creative writing to permeate the high school community so students are writing for an authentic audience.”
Gorlin said part of the proposed elective is open to all grades, rather than just seniors, and includes the publishing of a literary journal to reach the community.
“Our original proposal was really dreamy and big; it was sort of a grand scheme. We didn’t get funded for that really big picture program, but what we’ll probably pursue now is try to convince the English Department to still have creative writing offered as an elective,” Kelley said.
Both teachers believe student demand will be essential in convincing the English Department to adopt the course even without grant funding. Kelley said that many students only discover creative writing opportunities senior year, which makes it difficult to build enthusiasm and continuity.
“If we can [get] 10th graders into the program or even 11th graders into the program, I think that could really build the energy,” Kelley said. “If we got 10th graders into the program and then they take it again in 11th grade, their voice would really grow.”
Junior Liv Klawiter said that despite taking many English classes, she still feels she has not had the chance to explore storytelling in depth.
“Writing has always been my way of expressing myself,” Klawiter said. “I’ve always had a journal and written stories because I’ve always loved writing and I think I want to be an author when I grow up.”
Klawiter said that most high school English assignments focus on analysis and argumentative or structured essays, leaving little time for imagination or development of a narrative voice. Klawiter said she would take the Craft of Writing course senior year, but that she wishes younger students had the opportunity to take it as well.
Kelley said it is less about the structure of the class that she cares about, and more the fact there is a space available for students to write creatively, especially in a time when AI-generated writing is becoming increasingly more common.
“I think it’s really important to create spaces for students where writing is fun and engaging and creative,” Kelley said. “Part of the reason I want to do the journal is because, especially now, it’s really a response to AI. [We want to create] a place where a student’s original work is valued.”
In an environment where Klawiter said creativity is stifled by rubrics, she said she would be interested in a creative writing class open to more ages with more opportunities.
“Creativity is a very human way of expressing ourselves,” Klawiter said. “I think having a class that’s specifically about using your imagination is really important.”
