In this article, a veteran teacher expresses the importance of drawing on the life-texts of students and recognizing the ways that personal experience influences a student's perception of the world.

Presents an outline of a writing program designed to provide both the mental stimulation and ego involvement that enhance retirement life. (RL)

Discusses the problems of elective programs from course content and curriculum planning through administrative difficulties. (Author/RB)

Argues for a balance between student-centered and subject-centered'' English curriculums. (Author)

Describes a first year's experience with a nongraded, elective English program at Hickory Township High School, Sharon, Pa. (SW)

Discusses why a women's literature course is necessary to combat the web of gender bias woven throughout literature, schools, and society. Describes the creation and proposal of a curriculum for such a class at the high school level. Notes objections from male teachers and outlines responses. Describes how the course was proposed to, and turned…

Describes the process by which Cherry Hill, New Jersey teachers, in cooperation with parents, administrators, and other professionals, developed a curriculum for teaching "Huckleberry Finn" that successfully explores the controversial issues by embedding traditional teaching in a rich, historical, and cultural framework. Provides the…

Proposes that the study of the short story should have a prominent place in any high school English curriculum. Provides suggestions for such a course. (RL)

Presents an overview of the competing visions of the literature curriculum currently being advanced. Also presents the historical roots of the approaches, as well as the assumptions about learning and adolescents that each approach makes. (NKA)