March 1976: Class on Culture in the Community

Question: “Do you think you could persuade kids to sign up for an English course which could (a) cost them money, and (b) require them to meet evenings in addition to their regular class?”

Answer: So many students wanted to sign up for the course that the teachers had to limit the number to 25 juniors and seniors. One of the objectives of the course was to make students aware of such cultural events as plays, concerts and films in the community. They began with the school play, saw what went into the production, the mayhem back stage on opening night. Then they watched professional actors in three one-act plays by Chekhov. The teachers discovered that most of the students had never seen a play.

Comment: I was most impressed by the preparation for observing each event, from reviews to interviews with the participants, etc. RayS.

Title: “Community Culture—a Course with Class.” Jim May. English Journal (March 1976), 64-66.

March 1976: Evaluation Fill-Ins

Question: What is a creative method for evaluating a lesson or unit or course?

Answer: Have students complete these statement:

I learned that ……….

I realized that……….

I noticed that……….

I was pleased that……….

I re-learned that……….

I discovered that……….

Comment: As a supervisor, rarely did I ever observe teachers taking the time to close out lessons, units or courses. These statements can elicit interesting insights into what the students learned. RayS.

Title: “A Pop Culture Potpourri.” Mary Thompson. English Journal (March 1976), 63-64.

March 1976: "New Journalism"

Question: What was the “New Journalism”?

Answer: “Tom Wolfe and others discovered that it was possible in nonfiction to use virtually any literary device to excite and engage the reader both intellectually and emotionally.”

Comment: I know you know what was known as the “new journalism.” I just thought it would be good to define it, since it is now part of the mainstream in books, newspapers and magazines. And its devices should probably be actively taught in your writing classes. RayS.

Title: “Teaching the New Journalism.” G Nicholson. English Journal (March 1976), 55-56.

March 1976: Final Examples of Sexist and Nonsexist Alternatives

Sexist: Writers become so involved in their work that they neglect their wives and children.

Alternative: Writers become so involved in their work that they neglect their families.

Sexist: Sally’s husband lets her teach part-time.

Alternative: Sally teaches part-time.

Sexist: the elementary teacher…she

Alternative: elementary teachers…they

Sexist: the principal…he

Alternative: principals…they

Sexist: Have your mother send cookies for the field trip.

Alternative: Have your parents send cookies for the field trip.

Sexist: While lunch was delayed, the ladies chattered about last night’s meeting.

Alternative: While lunch was delayed, the women talked about last night’s meeting.

And finally:

Sexist language in a direct quotation cannot be altered, but alternatives should be considered:

(1) Avoid the quotation altogether if it is not really necessary.

(2) Paraphrase the quotation, giving the original author credit for the idea.

(3) If the quotation is fairly short, recast as an indirect quotation, eliminating the sexist language.

A whole lot more information is included in the guidelines. These examples should give you a good idea of the intent of the guidelines and how nonsexist language can be achieved. The best alternative for me is to stay in the plural when I find myself mixing the singular with plural references. I once wrote a whole 500 + page book in the plural and I was astonished at how smoothly it read. RayS.

Title: “For the Members.” Prepared by Headquarters Staff of NCTE. English Journal (March 1976), pp. 23-26.

March 1976: More Examples of Sexist and Nonsexist Alternatives

March 1976: More Examples of Sexist and Nonsexist Alternatives

Sexist: Running for Student Council president are Bill Smith, a straight-A sophomore and Kathie Ryan, a pert junior.

Alternative: Running for Student Council president are Bill Smith, a straight-A sophomore, and newspaper editor Kathie Ryan, a junior.

Sexist: Senator Percy and Mrs. Chisholm

Alternative: Charles Percy and Shirley Chisholm or Mr. Percy and Mrs. Chisholm or Senator Percy and Representative Chisholm.

Sexist: girl Friday

Alternative: assistant

Sexist: I’ll have my girl do it

Alternative: I’ll have my secretary do it.

Sexist: career girl

Alternative: Name the woman’s profession, e.g., attorney Ellen Smith

Sexist: ladies

Alternative: “women” unless paired with “gentlemen.”

Sexist: libber

Alternative: feminist

Sexist: coed

Alternative: student

Sexist: authoress, poetess

Alternative: author, poet

Sexist: man-sized job

Alternative: big or enormous job

Sexist: old wives’ tale

Alternative: superstitious belief, story or idea

Title: “For the Members.” Prepared by Headquarters Staff of NCTE. English Journal (March 1976), pp. 23-26.

Next blog: And still more examples of sexist and nonsexist expressions.