Actually I am a linguist - certified in 3 foreign languages plus English certification plus history certification - and have lived in Europe and Asia. My views are not outdated, they are correct. Oddly enough I teach Spanish literature in Spanish classes and French literature in French classes and German literature in German classes, why don't English teachers see the necessity of doing the same in English classes? You could always tack on tidbits of multiculturalism in classes named Multicultural Literature or some such. Perhaps English teachers view themselves as missionaries, propagandists, or social workers rather than specialists in teaching the English language and its literature. False advertising?  
Cheers,
R.Reis



----- Original Message -----
From: Gretchen Lee
Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2000 9:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Great site, run by a brilliant Black lady


In a message dated 11/28/2000 4:47:24 PM Pacific Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:<< Lot's more fun for English teachers with
low I.Q.'s and axes to grind than teaching grammar, logical thinking, and
classical literature. >>


Oh, dear.  This is the kind of rhetoric that reinforces the widening chasm
between "traditional" grammarians and "English teachers."  What a pity that
the argument (diatribe?) isn't couched in terms that invite an English
teacher (me, for instance) to discuss the issue.

Sigh.  Lucky I'm not the sort to rail against grammarians with outdated views
of literacy and rather naive views of the relative value of Western Civ in an
increasingly global and wired world . . . .

Gretchen in San Jose (who teaches _Beowulf_, Greek mythology, and _Tom
Sawyer_ in addition to _The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963_, and material by
Gary Soto and Kyoko Mori - and wearing another hat - world history)

[log in to unmask]

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