Wit Whither Wilt? Some Recent Books on the Teaching of English

Abstract

The "Position of English in the educational system of England " has scarcely any history.' The Departmental Committee, reporting in 1921, mourned the failure of schools and teachers to discover their responsibilities towards English, but believed that, given the right kind of teachers, the schools could triumphantly demonstrate that 'English is the essential basis of a liberal education for all'. The speed of enlightenment was to be aided by education of the public and (pleasant to contemplate) a 'fraternity of itinerant preachers on English Literature'. In that same year of wonders, 1921, George Sampson's essay 'English for the English ' demonstrated another potentially powerful source With contributions by ALAN DAVIES and DOROTHY ATKINSON and a Foreword by Professor E. A . PEEL