In the teaching of American literature and history in the mid-1980s, how well prepared are American high school instructors with respect to teaching skills as well as knowledge of their subjects? How are teachers responding to critics who proclaim the decline of American secondary education? Pam Brewer, John O’Connor, David Shi, and Marion Winship were participants in a summer institute for secondary educators convened at the National Humanities Center under the sponsorship of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the North Carolina Humanities Committee, and Planters National Bank.
At the time of this interview, Brewer taught English at Person Senior High School in Roxboro, N.C. O’Connor was assistant director for programs at the National Humanities Center. Shi, a Fellow at the Center (1982-83), was professor of history at Davidson College. Winship taught English and history at the Greenhill School in Dallas, Tex.
This edition of Soundings was conducted by Wayne J. Pond.
