Abstract

(An imaginary speech to the Middle Tennessee Council of Teachers of English based on real material.) JAMES BYRD State Teachers College, Commerce, Texas Madam Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: The story is told—too frequently, probably—of the elderly maiden lady who went to heaven, seeking entrance, She knocked on the door. "Who is it?" asked St. Peter. "It is I," replied the lady. "Well, go to the other place," he answered calmly, "we have enough English teachers up here now." That story is somewhat funny to those of you who have not heard it and still have the desirable ability to laugh at yourself. Yet, its popu- larity or currency gives it some significance beyond mere humor. It illustrates the accepted stereotype of the high school English teacher. This teacher speaks with strict grammatical correctness that differen- tiates her from other people. She is elderly and unmarried. No doubt she taught because she had nothing else to do. According to the stereotype, these "old maids" just naturally teach English—mostly grammar. This stereotype has annoyed me for some time, and I have been eager to prove it false. I have done so—to my satisfaction, at least—here in middle Tennessee. The idea that