Considers the ramifications of four basic issues that must be resolved in K-12 literary education programs. Points out that teachers of literature need to join current efforts to seek quality in the English curriculum by examining again the content of their programs as well as the methods used to teach. (EL)

Uses complaints leveled against English teachers in l912 to support three points about the crisis in literacy: (1) the "writing crisis" is not new, (2) teaching basics will not solve crisis, and (3) solution to problem should be based on what is known about history and theory of composition instruction and about successful and unsuccessful methods…