I recently had the pleasure and honor of speaking with Walt Hunter — senior associate dean at Case Western Reserve University, professor of 20th- and 21st-century literature, poetry editor at The Atlantic, and author of the poetry collection Some Flowers.
The conversation began with the Atlantic essay that prompted the invitation: “Stop Meeting Students Where They Are.” (Read it here.)
It’s a provocative title — but the thesis is bracing rather than punitive. Hunter argues that in an era defined by devices, distraction, AI, and cultural impatience, educators must resist the impulse to lower expectations in the name of accessibility. Instead of asking what students already consume, he asks what they might rise to.
Sometimes “meeting students where they are” really means: don’t risk difficulty. Don’t demand depth. Don’t make anyone uncomfortable.
We’re living in a moment of ambient anti-intellectualism — where if something doesn’t monetize, scale, or optimize, it’s treated as ornamental. The arts are expected to justify themselves in ways business or athletics never are.
Walt’s pushback is simple but disruptive:
Raise the bar.
Don’t assume students can’t handle complexity. Don’t pre-digest poetry because you’re afraid they won’t “get it.” Don’t panic about AI before reconsidering whether your assignments are worth doing.
If a student doesn’t understand calculus on the first day, we don’t scrap calculus. We teach it.
Poetry, Walt argues, is an analog act in a culture obsessed with optimization. It tracks what matters — not to improve our efficiency, but to deepen our humanity.
As we get ready to launch our Young Poets Anthology, I wanted to revisit & celebrate this conversation with a vital and refreshing voice—someone who not only understands but cares about nurturing why we write poetry, and why it matters. Some snippets, below, and stay tuned for part two with more snippets followed by the complete conversation!
MORE ABOUT WALT HUNTER
Walt Hunter is senior associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences and a professor of 20th- and 21st-century literature in the department of English at Case Western Reserve University. Hunter is fiction and poetry editor for The Atlantic. In addition to two books of literary criticism, Hunter is also the author of a collection of poetry, Some Flowers.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/althunter/?hl=en
Website:
https://walthunter.com/