English Teachers in a Postwar Democracy Emerging Choice in London Schools, 1945-1965

by Hardcastle, John; Medway, Peter; Brewis, Georgina; Crook, David

• ISBN13: 9781137005137
• ISBN10: 1137005130
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2014-07-10
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

In the twenty years after the Second World War, English society experienced opposing positions, particularly among teachers of English, regarding the education of Britain's youth. Different attitudes to achieving a fully democratic society were explored, whether by cultivating high standards in the ablest students or promoting a common cultural experience across abilities and social classes. The authors have studied in unprecedented detail three London school English departments, one of them an early comprehensive school, using oral history interviews and the collection and analysis of a large body of documents, including teachers' mark books and students' work. This move towards a more inclusive version of English involved not only the teachers in the comprehensive schools, but also some in the grammar schools—shaping the ideas of those who would found a new London English teachers association.

Author Biography

Dr John Hardcastle, Senior Lecturer in Education, Director: Social Change and English 1945 – 65, Department of Children and Learning, Institute of Education, University of London

Dr Peter Medway, Research Fellow, Department of Education and Professional Studies, King's College London,

Georgina Brewis, Research Officer, Faculty of Children and Learning, Department of Learning, Curriculum and Communication, Institute of Education, University of London

David Crook, Reader in Education, School of Sport and Education, Brunel University

Table of Contents

Introduction: Understandings of English Teaching
1. Society, Social Change and Secondary English in the Post-war Years
2.Literature Review
3. Research Design and Implementation
4. The Traditional Grammar School (Boys): Hackney Downs School, formerly the Grocers' Company School
5. The Experimental Comprehensive (Mixed): Walworth School
6. The 20th Century Mixed, Suburban, Selective School (Mixed): Minchenden Grammar School
7. The Three Schools: a Discussion
Conclusion