Connie, I'm referring to the emergence of state standards for language arts in vast vast numbers of states all around the US. I don't know precisely how many states have such language arts standards. But the proportion is, I believe, huge. hence nationwide. And now, I'm out of town for 5 days. Cheers folks, Rebecca Connie Weaver wrote: > Rebecca, > > You mention the advent of nationwide grammar/language arts standards. Are > you referring to the 3S project? If not, to what? > > Thanks in advance-- > Connie Weaver > > "Rebecca S. Wheeler" wrote: > > > Dear ATEG, > > I regret very much Ed's resignation as webmaster of the ATEG website, as > > Ed is and has long long been a core member of this organization. Indeed, > > he is the founder of Syntax in the Schools, a publication which he > > initiated, maintained and ran for a decade and a half (that is 15 > > YEARS!!!!!). The dedication, perseverance and vision that Ed has > > consistently offered ATEG and SIS is astonishing. And Ed has been there > > with that energy and vision all along. > > > > I write in response to Ed's comments about changes in the direction of > > ATEG, and specifically, about changes in the nature of Syntax in the > > Schools, our ATEG publication. For many years, Ed has run SIS as a > > newsletter. The editorial policy was that all articles were accepted and > > printed as is, without editing. This provided an important vehicle for > > communicating insights and approaches to grammar in the schools. At the > > same time, active ATEG membership and SIS subscriptions have remained > > relatively constant, hovering around the 125 person level or so, I > > believe. > > > > The times are a changing. With the advent of nationwide grammar/language > > arts standards, issues pertinent to Syntax in the Schools are coming > > increasingly to the fore. It has seemed to a number of us that ATEG > > could provide a much broader national and international resource > > regarding the teaching of grammar. To that end, as new Editor, of SIS, I > > have advertised our publication on all the NCTE listserves, in the > > English Journal, and on LINGUIST net. I am seeking to promote both a > > broader readership and writership for SIS. > > > > There is a lot of work out there happening in the arena of Grammar in > > the Schools. For example, the Linguistics Association of Great Britain > > (LAGB) has just announced an upcoming conference on GRAMMAR TEACHING AND > > THE DEVELOPMENT OF WRITING SKILLS University of Durham, UK. I've > > contacted them, inquiring whether they would consider submitting their > > work to SIS. Similarly, in the recent issues of SIS, we've seen work > > from a Charter School in Arizona looking at how grammar fits into the > > implementation of language arts standards, work from a 7th grade grammar > > curriculum, further notes from the British front, etc. > > > > Far from being any sort of Profscam (tho I have not read the treatise Ed > > mentions), Syntax in the Schools seeks to publish thoughtful work > > regarding grammar in the schools. We have moved into a refereed status > > so to assure the caliber of commentary and contribution. > > > > The membership at ATEG voted unanimously to change the classification > > of SIS from newsletter to journal in recognition of the nature of the > > articles submitted. Numerous people pointed out that the material that > > we publish is more of the sort found in journals than the sort found in > > newsletters, the latter being a place for announcements of events and > > such, and the former being a place for more thoughtful discussion of > > issues and practices in the field. > > > > Ed is certainly right that we are currently small -- 16 pages at this > > point. But we are in a growth cycle. Our intention is to develop a > > broader forum for publication of materials relevant to grammar pedagogy > > K - 16. Our emphasis, continuing Ed's guiding light, will be that of > > practical articles of direct import to the school classroom. We are not > > a theory journal. We are a publication seeking practical, thoughtful > > examination of practices and purposes in the teaching of grammar in the > > schools. > > > > To that end, let us grow that we may bring this significant discussion > > to a wider audience, with wider effect on language in the school > > classroom. > > > > Sincerely, > > > > Rebecca Wheeler > > > > > > > > > ******************************************* > > Rebecca S. Wheeler, Ph.D. > > Assistant Professor > > Department of English > > Christopher Newport University > > 1 University Place > > Newport News, VA 23606-2998 > > > > Editor, Syntax in the Schools > > The Journal of the Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar (ATEG), > > an > > assembly of the NCTE > > http://www2.pct.edu/courses/evavra/ATEG/SiS.htm > > > > phone: (757) 594-8891; fax: (757) 594-8870 > > email: [log in to unmask] > > > > ******************************************* -- ******************************************* Rebecca S. Wheeler, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of English Christopher Newport University 1 University Place Newport News, VA 23606-2998 Editor, Syntax in the Schools The Journal of the Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar (ATEG), an assembly of the NCTE http://www2.pct.edu/courses/evavra/ATEG/SiS.htm phone: (757) 594-8891; fax: (757) 594-8870 email: [log in to unmask] *******************************************