Talking texts with teachers #9

"Australian literature offers so many incredible opportunities for students to think critically and engage deeply."

The Castle

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Alex Wharton is an experienced K-12 educator and school leader across the public and independent sectors in metropolitan and rural NSW. He has been a Head of English and school principal, with his achievements including a NSW Premier’s Teaching Award and the inaugural Reading Australia Fellowship (with a focus on colonial literature). He is has been a literary critic and judge for Red Room Poetry, Children’s Book Council of Australia and the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. He is currently a PhD candidate at Western Sydney University; his research focusing on supporting media literacy practices in regional New South Wales, with a vision for fostering “digitally flourishing” families.

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What is the best text you've ever taught, and why?

This is such a challenging question and could be likened to asking a parent which child is their favourite! Students also respond differently to texts taught in different contexts, which also affects my own teaching, how I respond to the text, and how we respond as a class.

One of the best texts I’ve ever taught is Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey. It’s an incredible novel for exploring Australian identity, prejudice, and coming-of-age themes. Students are immediately drawn into its mystery, but what makes it so engaging is how it challenges them to think about morality, racism, and small-town politics. It’s also a fantastic text for discussing narrative voice and unreliable narration, which adds depth to the engagement!

For junior secondary, a standout is My Place by Sally Morgan. This memoir is such a powerful exploration of identity, belonging, and the uncovering of hidden histories. When students read Morgan’s journey of self-discovery and her family’s experiences with the Stolen Generations, they begin to understand the importance of personal and collective storytelling in Australian history.

For poetry, Ali Cobby Eckermann’s work—especially Inside My Mother—is always an incredibly moving experience to teach. Her poems explore themes of dispossession, family and healing, and they provide an accessible yet deeply layered introduction to contemporary First Nations perspectives.

Ultimately, I think the best texts are the ones that stay with students long after we finish studying it. Australian literature offers so many incredible opportunities for students to think critically and engage deeply.

What is the worst?

I wouldn’t say there’s a ‘worst’ text, but there are definitely some that haven’t worked as well as I’d hoped in the classroom. One that surprised me was The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. It’s a classic coming-of-age novel, but students either love or loathe Holden Caulfield. Some connect with his voice, but others find him frustrating and whiny, which makes deep engagement difficult. It’s a novel that relies on empathy for the protagonist, and if that’s missing, the whole text falls flat.

Was there a book that you studied in school that left an impression (good or bad)?