The War Against Grammar (CrossCurrents Series)

In pellucid prose, author David Mulroy, a classicist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, discusses the deleterious effect that a decades-long avoidance of formal instruction in grammar has had on American students: SAT scores are down; reading comprehension has declined; enrollment in most foreign languages has dropped; and students suffer in general from a "higher illiteracy." While students can, that is--some of them, at least--express themselves adequately, they are not proficient at explicating the literal meanings of grammatically complex texts. Asked to paraphrase the first sentence of the Declaration of Independence, for example, one of the author's students writes: "It doesn't matter where you came from. In the end we are all human beings. Humans are at the top of the food chain, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't respect nature. Because we have one earth, learn to preserve it."The purpose of grammar, Mulroy explains, is twofold: "It preserves and perfects understanding of the great literature of the past, and it contributes to eloquent self-expression." He argues persuasively for a return to a concentration on formal grammatical instruction in schools, not out of some school-marmish obsession with sentence-ending prepositions or the like, but because grammar is a foundation for further understanding: "Intellectuals work with words. Questioning the value of basic grammar is like asking whether farmers should know the names of their crops and animals." He points out, too, what most of us probably take for granted, that the world benefits enormously from the existence of a standard English, which grammatical instruction helps maintain: speakers of English across the globe can communicate with one another easily, which was not true of English speakers mere villages apart in the medieval period.Mulroy hits on a number of topics in his short book, among them the ancient liberal arts curriculum, the history of the classification of words into eight basic categories, educational practices in the middle ages, and progressive education. Happily, he also includes a section on sentence diagramming. This allowed me to pass a pleasant half hour diagramming sentences with my eight-year-old: intrigued by the game at first, she came to think me unusual in my interests, and facetiously suggested we try subtracting for pleasure next. She may mock, but then she's not likely to wind up thinking the Declaration of Independence was an early-American plea for nature preserves.Reviewed by Debra Hamel, author of Trying Neaira: The True Story of a Courtesan's Scandalous Life in Ancient Greece

Usually when I read these sorts of books, I walk away feeling dejected about the course of human civilization. David Mulroy's approach and knowledge, however, left me feeling hopeful. His thorough treatment of grammar and the history of its teaching is a reminder not only that philosophies of education come in cycles, but that language itself, the expression of thought, is a fundamental fact of being human. And although the rigor and approach to language teaching has and will shift, we will always be speaking and therefore thinking, thus profound thought will always rise up amongst the ranks of civilization.

A concise and compelling book about the terrible consequences of choosing to abandon the teaching of grammar in American schools.

I will comment on the details.I read this as homeschooler generally interested in teaching solid grammar. I have learned (the hard way) the truth behind how difficult it is to get grammar ingrained after a certain age. I believe he suggested 3 or 4th grade through 7 or 8th.(I was in the first wave of the non-grammarian education back in the 60s, and I am a bit awed at how difficult it is to pick it up after the age of 40. After all, if I can memorize big swaths of poetry, pass the Boards, and rotate three dimensional figures in my head with the grace of a gazelle, you'd think I could get the concept of "gerund" to stick in my head.)I was very amused to see a Peter Elbow book mentioned early on. I was assigned Writing Without Teachers my freshman year, and couldn't make heads or tails of it. (Other students called it Writing Without Elbows.) By pointing out the intellectual gack this educational philosophy produces, he immediately won my heart.Another impression I had of the book was the really nice writing. It was neither too elaborate (I'm thinking Who Killed Homer) nor too dry, and I got the distinct impression this fella could have gone on and on if he had wanted to, but that the blessing of a narrow subject let him off the hook for 367 page book. He is endearing, as you feel he really cares about language and education and the advancement of the human race through the blessing of mutually understood language, as well as the simple joy of the Great Conversation.On a more personal note, if you see red at the mention of homeschoolers or faith in a deity, you might make a pass on this book. He does mentioned he homeschools (or -ed) his son, and plops a (completely unneeded) reference to humans being God's only creation with grammar on the next to last page.Full of tidbits of history (Columbia's Teacher's College started out teaching poor girls to cook and garden), carefully referenced, a full biobliography, a simple intro to types of diagramming, a few lovely quotes of his beloved Latin and Greek, it is all this in a single-sitting read. If you can stomach more sad news about "high illiteracy", and want a little more fuel for your cheerleading of grammar education, give this book a whirl. If you need reassurance in your homeschool goal of having children with their grammar down pat, this book will fit the bill. Perhaps some reader will start the grammar version of Mathematically Correct, and take on California!

Interesting and well written. He goes way back in history so that we can see that the current dichotomy regarding how to teach language is by no means new but is, rather, several hundred years old. He shows why grammar is important and should be taught and what the beneficial effects are.

Although the type is unfortunately close and small for my poor eyesight, the book itself was great. I was left wishing there was something more I could do to change educational policy and reinstate formal grammar into the curriculum of our school system.

Surprisingly, this book contains the best description of what Classical Education is that I have ever read. It was a break through for me in my search to put the Trivium into application.

Love it

Thoughtful, well-researched and beautifully written, this book gives relevant historical and contemporary information on this issue.It provides strong arguments for anyone trying to convince schools to return to a proven and superior method of teaching literacy.Thank you to the author.

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