Siobhan Casson wrote:

> I'd like to know what kind of thing happens in US primary =
> and secondary schools in relation to grammar - is it still taught on a =
> national scale, or is it totally dependent on  each state government.

I believe it is safe to say that all requirements on grammar is at the
state level. There would be huge outcry in this country if the Federal
government would attempt to set a requirement about what teachers need
to know about grammar.  (Some in this country, including  pResident,
appear to be bothered less by the Federal government telling states they
have to test public school students every year.)

> Is  it traditional, or influenced by Chomsky? What happens in teacher
> training?

In the standard textbooks in the public schools in the States, almost
all descriptions are traditional.  I don't think it is an exaggeration
to say that the only Chomskyan influence is the use of the word
"transformation" to describe some English structures.

Required teacher courses about grammar varies by state.  For example, in
my state, Missouri (St. Louis and Kansas City are two large cities in
Missouri), elementary teachers do not have any course on grammar or the
nature of language. This is unusual. Secondary school teachers must have
a course on English grammar.

Bob Yates
Central Missouri State University

What are teachers in the elementary and secondary schools supposed to
know about English grammar?

What is the influence of neo-Firthian perspectives on descriptions of
English in the pre-service courses for teachers?

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