Teacher calls on Croydon Council to encourage children to become authors

by Aline Nassif

aline.nassif@essnmedia.co.uk

A teacher and published author who has launched a book club to inspire youngsters to become the next Rudyard Kipling, J.K. Rowling or Irvine Welsh has criticised Croydon's "one-dimensional" career opportunities.

Christian Ainley would love to see borough-wide initiatives to help launch the careers of prospective writers.

But instead, the 35-year-old Riddlesdown Collegiate teacher says the town is bombarded with projects for the usual digest of "pop music", "comedy" and "football".

Christian, from Fawcett Road, Croydon, said: "The only talent to emerge from Croydon seems to come from three sectors, it's just so one-dimensional.

"But the problem lies at the top, with this borough's leaders and Croydon Council who perhaps assume that's the most we can aspire to.

"Nobody at the top has the clarity of vision to change - we are just sticking to a tried and test formula.

"At our schools there is a lot of emphasis on sports, and courses in health and beauty, but this is just reinforcing the Croydon stereotype.

"No one is taking stock of the fact that 50 per cent of our current school curriculum demands the ability to write, and in many cases to write with an active imagination."

Christian believes the council should look at establishing more book clubs like the one he has launched.

He added: "Because of the continued lack of investment there is no understanding of what writing is about.

"The council has to take the initiative and put more emphasis on it. Look at their website and you'll find lots of stuff on movies, football and music but nothing on the literary arts."

Christian hopes his book club, at the Purley-based school, where he teaches science, psychology and critical thinking, will help familiarise youngsters with the concept of writing professionally.

He said: "The idea is to read a book one week and discuss it the following week.

"I want to make books, literature, reading and writing sexy.

"I want Croydon youngsters to see it as a viable career option."

Christian's newly-released fantasy adventure, The Enchanted Amulet, was partly written to "help raise the profile of writers in Croydon".

He said: "I've lived here for eight years and have worked at Riddlesdown Collegiate for five, and in all that time I haven't seen any initiatives for budding authors.

"Come to think of it, I can only think of one children's author to have come from Croydon, and that's Allan Ahlberg.

"Croydon's quite a gritty town and there's no reason why aspects of it couldn't be incorporated into a book like Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting."

In response a Croydon Council spokeswoman said that plenty was being done to encourage writing and young writers.

She said: "Croydon places great value on reading and creative writing and is involved in many initiatives to promote and support prospective writers and literary talent.

"Our 12 libraries host workshops throughout the year by well-known writers, including local authors, which are well attended by schools and members of the public.

"This year, library staff have visited primary schools to deliver collections of books and talk about children's fiction in support of a national project to encourage more boys into literature.

"Croydon libraries and Croydon Museum also held a family learning creative writing project, "Write Up Your Street", as part of Family Learning Week, and competitions to encourage budding writers.

"And throughout the summer over 5,000 children took part in our annual reading challenge – The Book Trail – where over 58,000 books were read.

"As part of the cultural Olympiad we launched a creative writing initiative, inspired by Dame Tanni Grey Thompson, and a book containing the work of adult learners, families and children was produced.

"We work with local groups and creative writing agencies that hold training courses for young journalists and emerging writers and support and promote national reading and writing initiatives.

"And as part of Croydon Black History Month we are inviting local black residents to write stories, poems and articles about their experiences."