Educating English.

Overview & Synopsis

Reports on teacher education calling for reform of undergraduate courses and curricula in arts and sciences, while eliminating the undergraduate degree in education do not adequately reflect the realities of the classroom. The Carnegie and the Holmes reports, among others, claim that prematurely specializing undergraduate education students causes them to miss out on much of the intellectual development that a liberal arts education affords. In reality, however, courses in English and education for undergraduates interact positively with each other, and the loss of undergraduate education courses signals a loss of focus for prospective English teachers. English education classes provide a purposeful context for learning English, that of demonstrating the humanities to others. With a student body that is growing older and more experienced, and with very dubious fifth-year programs becoming all too prevalent, college administrators need to reexamine undergraduate programs, keeping English and education interrelated. Key faculty, such as those who work in both English and education, whether consulted or not, should participate in making changes in undergraduate and graduate courses for prospective teachers. (SKC)