The note,
Writing grows out of many different purposes [including]聽developing social networks; engaging in civic discourse; supporting personal and spiritual growth; reflecting on experience; communicating professionally and academically; building relationships with others, including friends, family, and like-minded individuals; and engaging in aesthetic experiences.
In a , Robert C. Wess cited the Bee Gee’s and noted,聽鈥淭eachers should be required to write for publication,鈥� suggesting that secondary teachers write one article per semester as their way of 鈥淪tayin鈥橝live.鈥�
Anne Figuhr, on the other hand countered that 鈥渇or today鈥檚 high school English teachers… We are 鈥楽tayin鈥� Alive.鈥� We are not dead because we are not writing and publishing.鈥�
Wess’ and Figuhr’s arguments started a firestorm of letters to English Journal–many more than could be printed, and I suspect their arguments go on today.
I’ll reveal my proclivity聽by saying that if you find yourself with聽a little time on your hands during the holiday break and you lean toward聽Wess鈥� belief, there are 聽waiting for your submissions of articles on classroom practice and research, book reviews and teaching ideas, and teacher creative prose and poetry.
WRITE!