English teaching for democratic futures: The role of language, literacy and literature in developing creative and critical thinkers

Abstract

<p>The chapter examines the role of language, literacy and literature in developing creative and critical thinkers, making strong claims for the political importance of English. We share accounts from Australian secondary English teachers regarding their perspectives on how an English curriculum can support young people to become creative and critical thinkers, who can participate fully in democratic modes of being and belonging. In particular, the chapter explores the enabling and constraining elements of the Australian Curriculum: English (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority 2022), with its curriculum strands of language, literacy and literature. Teachers considered how the language strand might support the development of a more democratic society, the purpose of literacy in a democratic society, and how literature can be used to engage students in creative and critical thinking. While the curriculum under examination is drawn from the Australian context, the findings have broad implications for English as an emancipatory subject across multiple contexts.</p>