As student teachers and new teachers enter the rich, historied culture of their English departments, they are listening and looking intently for cues about how they fit in. Sadly, recent scholarship indicates that many teachers never actually find a satisfactory fit. According to Richard Ingersoll, almost 50% of new teachers quit before they reach…

In this article, the author describes her induction years in high school teaching, reporting the frustration in lacking a suitably matched mentor, and her determination to attend to her own professional growth. Her story reveals characteristics common among "stayers," those who continue beyond their induction years and thrive for a long time as…

Describes the results of a questionnaire survey of English department heads regarding teaching load and teaching conditions. (DD)

Examines the formal and informal (noninstitutionalized) leadership roles of teachers, new and veteran, in a successful high school English department. Provides sketches of teachers in the department and then discusses some leadership issues. (TB)

This article discusses the NCTE's Twenty-three Recommendations for High School Departments of English, suggesting reordering of some and establishment of priorities. Teachers are advised to disseminate these recommendations, and to take the initiative in having them implemented. (Author/JB)

Discusses the many contributions of Rewey Belle Inglis, a secondary English teacher, university English educator, and textbook publisher, as well as first woman president of the National Council of Teachers of English (1929). Discusses her professional credentials, her place in history, her writings (about teaching grammar and literature, teacher…

Describes the results of a survey of English teachers and their administrators in fifty American high schools regarding college entrance scores. (DD)

Inaugurates a new column addressed to those in language arts leadership positions, particularly the English department chair and the district and state supervisor or consultant, but also other English education administrators. Describes scope of the column and solicits suggestions for articles. Discusses the role of chairs and consultants in…

Presents seven high school teachers' descriptions of how cooperation and communication among English teachers is promoted in their departments/school districts. (MM)

Curriculum change is usually haphazard and externally motivated. (JH)

Suggests how English departments and teachers can humanize the use of computer technology in the teaching of literacy. Asserts that computer support of English programs will only succeed with a humanistic vision of computer technology. (MM)

Describes one method of peer review used by a secondary school department head when asked to evaluate teachers in her department. Visits to individual classrooms included observation and notetaking, a narrative response to each teacher, and a final conference during which each teacher could respond to the narrative. ( NKA)

Describes a high school project to encourage creative writing across the curriculum by designating a "Publications Coordinator," whose job is to help fledgling writers by keeping track of opportunities available for publication and generally aiding young writers. (NKA)

Discusses how English teachers can work with other departments to promote interdisciplinary approaches to teaching. Describes sharing writing labs; producing television news reports; engaging in a school-wide theme week; an "academic" Olympic Games; vocabulary exercises in the social studies classes; mock trials; and a team-taught social…