How? McCourt was teaching a class on Creative Writing - this wasn't in a science or math class. He took what he was supposed to be teaching (how to write stori

How? McCourt was teaching a class on Creative Writing - this wasn't in a science or math class. He took what he was supposed to be teaching (how to write stories), and found a theme to write about that his students found interesting. Those children weren't following their "interests, inclinations and energies" - I find it very hard to believe that every single kid in that class would be doing creative writing if they had the ability to do whatever their interests led them to. They were doing what they were supposed to do in that subject-specific class, and just happened to be led by a very good teacher.