A Progressive Education: Poems

by Richard Howard

How extraordinary that the only poetry collection devoted to the trials and tribulations of an entire class of sixth graders is written by the eighty-five-year-old MacArthur Grant and Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Richard Howard! Although loosely based on the poet's own progressive education in Cleveland, Ohio, in the 1940s, the poems are set mostly in the present day. Richard Howard is a poet of personality, of history, and of a sensibility rooted in knowledge. In his fifteenth collection, Howard captivates the reader as he and the class grapple with science and literature, teacher and principal, and the hard facts and comic fancies of life itself.

Genres: Poetry

107 pages, Paperback

First published October 14, 2014

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable series of poems written as letters from the Sixth Grade class at Park Middle School in Sandusky, Ohio. We follow the trials of the Sixth Grade as they relate disturbing incidents perpetrated by their own classmates, their shock at the unfortunate details of S.I. (sexual intercourse) revealed to them in hygiene class, and their ruminations as they try to work out why so many animals eat their young. This is the kind of thing that might seem easy to do, but is actually incredibly hard to pull off. It feels light and funny during the reading of it, but Howard grounds the collection with darker themes which keep resurfacing. That seems right since, even though it's given a mostly humorous gloss, like most adolescents, the twelve-year olds of Park Middle's Sixth Grade class are trying to work out some deep mysteries.

[Cooper Renner · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Light and breezy” isn’t a phrase one associates with Howard’s poetry, but that’s what this is—except for a little density toward the end. This is, in essence, a young adult novel-in-verse and probably would have sold ten times as many copies if marketed so.

[Warren-Newport Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start this review by stating that I'm not the biggest lover of poetry. Mostly because it is often frustrating to me when I can’t discern the author’s meaning within the verse. This must be why A Progressive Education was so appealing. The writing is more of a free verse style with an actual storyline which feels more satisfying.

The poems are a collection of letters back and forth from a sixth grade class to various teachers and administrators, including one teacher named Miss Husband who, ironically, is not married. The reader gets the feeling that the story is based on the author’s own childhood (which it loosely is), giving it more depth. The story was cute and funny I recommend it for those who (like me) who don’t think they like poetry. (Jessica)

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of this book is a group of sixth-graders writing to the principal of their school, and I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5 because I would have preferred that the response from their principal had been left out (along with other adult voices). I have no idea if the author based these on some actual kids or made the whole thing up, but I am in love with these kids whether real or imagined. The book delighted me, and cracked me up several times, so I really should have given it 5 stars. My apologies for being so nit-picky.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute little book written in non-traditional style. The writing is straightforward (no underlying meanings here) and even funny at times.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this poetry very entertaining and fun to read. I loved the collective voice of 6th graders!