Traces the roots of composition instruction to the nineteenth century and shows the origins of many current traditions in writing, as well as describing the first "crisis" in basic skills, which took place in about 1870. (DD)

Reflects on 25 years of teaching English in a 2-year college. Makes observations about teachers, students, and accomplishments. Suggest what the future might hold. (MG)

Sketches the history of the Pacesetter initiative to reform high school English curricula. Discusses the pros and cons of the Pacesetter agenda, including its assessment instruments. (HB)

Examines collaborative pedagogy in English departments in the United States in two contrasting decades, the 1930s and the 1950s. Focuses on the practices discussed in three English journals: "English Journal,""College English," and "College Composition and Communication." (HB)

Argues that the teaching of composition in Indian boarding schools, through the combination of textbooks, pedagogical philosophy, and historically-generated pedagogical emphasis on industrial/domestic training, created a situation in which the writing was intended not to assist Indians in becoming "civilized" but to aid in the erasure of Indian…

Spanning the years 1932-1982, this book details the history of the National Conference on Research in English (NCRE) in terms of members' activities, research directions taken, and accomplishments. The first section of the book, "The Founding," reviews the initial efforts to establish the organization; examines its early programs;…

This textbook aims to enable pupils to master writing good English rather than teach theory of style and criticism. The contents are divided into five parts. Part I covers construction and combination of sentence and provides a variety of practical exercises. Part II focuses on varying the structure and phraseology of sentences. Part III is an…

In tracing the development of language curriculum in public schools, one discovers that prior to the twentieth century grammar was the center of linguistic attention. Around the beginning of the century, psychologists and others were doing research on the supposed efficacious results of such study and were finding that such supposed results were…

Contains representative selections from issues of "Elementary English," a precursor to "Language Arts," from its fourth decade of publication. Includes articles, editorials, and ads reflecting contemporary concerns of English education still relevant today, such as censorship, criticism of reading instruction, and the evolution…

Offers quotes from articles about English teaching in the United States published in professional journals from 1847 to 1955. Suggests there never was a "golden age" of English teaching. Shows discussion and controversy about teaching writing, about what literature should be allowed in the schools, whether teaching grammar is worthwhile, and…

Contains representative articles, ads, and editorials from issues of "The Elementary English Review," and "Elementary English," both precursors to "Language Arts," from 1944-1953. Selections reflect educational concerns still relevant today, such as the impact of audiovisual equipment and letting children write to…

This collection of essays is introduced by Paul Connelly, who focuses on how the essayists encounter problems boldly and recognize opportunity in them--the essays are less local reports of various successful process approaches to teaching writing than a record of the willingness to experiment, to take risks, to learn. The essays and their authors…

The period immediately following the second World War is important for the history of the preparation of teaching assistants in this country because English instruction changed dramatically due to the enactment of the G. I. Bill in 1944. However, the long-term effect of the Bill on curriculum and pedagogy has not been documented. The G. I. Bill…

Creative writers have moved into the mainstream of English departments without understanding or reviewing their own history, and without reconceptualizing graduate and undergraduate creative writing programs. Such a history can be constructed from sources in three areas: institutional history, creative writing history, and rhetorical history. An…

In the 1960s many teachers in the British secondary schools began a major effort to redefine their attitude toward the mass media in the light of certain social and cultural pressures. Changes in students made it necessary to provide materials of a less formal academic kind and to introduce literature, music, and art that would relate more…