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? To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/