This report offers a critique, from a linguistic viewpoint of the approach to grammatical description and prescription found in commonly used Australian school textbooks in 1987. Attention was directed solely towards grammatical content. A review of 41 primary and secondary level texts was conducted. All texts were published in Australia, and all appeared during the years 1979-1987. The selection was made to ensure thorough and representative coverage of the traditional approach of grammar study in Australia. Findings revealed that the great majority of texts showed no awareness of the principles and practice of modern linguistics, and their content was dated by 50 years. A more structural approach is offered that overcomes the shortcomings of these more traditional grammars without losing sight of the many valid and important insights of the traditional versions. A brief overview is provided for teachers and students of the main aspects of English that need to receive additional emphasis for better understanding of the English language. Prescriptive and descriptive grammars are defined as are the grammatical categories of verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and conjunctions. A glossary of grammar terms is appended. (Contains 28 references.) (NAV)