The Profession in Prospective

Described is the teaching of what has become junior & senior high school English in midwestern USA during the first third of this century. Discussion is based on records, recollections, courses of study, & various publications of the period. Grammar followed Latin & Greek formulations, r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:English journal 1977-03, Vol.66 (3), p.6-9
Main Author: LaBrant, Lou
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Described is the teaching of what has become junior & senior high school English in midwestern USA during the first third of this century. Discussion is based on records, recollections, courses of study, & various publications of the period. Grammar followed Latin & Greek formulations, regardless of their applicability to Eng. Writing was largely formal, emphasizing organization & sentence structure. Study of literature was based on a list of pieces originally prepared by Harvard as source of essays in entrance examinations. Selection of these pieces, known as "classics," gave slight attention to student interests or problems. Gradually, with advent of radio, paperback books, & a greatly expanded range of students, changes were introduced; but the list was considered fundamental until mid-century, & its influence has not disappeared today. Early in the century students were expected to conform to course offerings, & those failing dropped out. The procedure gave teachers a sense of mission & security not evident today. Problems have probably been basically constant, but emphasis today puts responsibility on the school, whereas in the first third of the century it was the students' role to conform. AA
ISSN:0013-8274
DOI:10.2307/815797