Angry English students abuse poet online

This is infuriating. The story is getting international press, though, which should be good for the author and shameful for the students.

Indigenous poet Ellen van Neerven abused by year 12 English students- Michael McGowan – Guardian – October 16, 2017

“Ellen van Neerven, an Indigenous writer and poet who won the prestigious David Unaipon Award in 2013, became the unwitting target of angry school students on Monday after one her poems, Mango, was used as a sample text in the New South Wales year 12 higher school certificate English exam.

“The exam question, worth two marks, asked students to ‘explain how the poet conveys the delight of discovery’.

“It prompted a torrent of abuse directed at van Neervan, including some students who contacted her directly on Facebook.

“’We were asked to analyse your mango fucked poem – and I’m asking what the fuck was the point of your mango bullshit,’ one message purportedly sent to van Neervan and subsequently posted on a HSC discussion group read.”