Discusses the historical pedagogical controversy between advocates of the personal, expressive functions of school-based creative writing and defenders of its utilitarian functions. Concludes that the merits of creative written expression must be defended during the current "back to basics" movement because of its therapeutic, functional, and…

The author traces the development of writing as a therapeutic tool, from its roots in Freudian psychoanalysis and bibliotherapy to current practices in the humanistic psychologies, where poetry therapy, correspondence, and diary-keeping are used as adjuncts to conventional therapies and as vehicles for self-awareness and self-help. (SJL)

Sixteen eighth grade students participated in a five-month experiment to determine whether informal writing has therapeutic effects on students' perceptions of how they view themselves and their personal problems. The students were selected on the basis of teacher opinion, learning ability, and student cooperation. Eight students were used as a…