The Constancy of the School "Canon": A Survey of Texts Used in Grade 10 English Language Arts in 2006 and 1996

Authors

  • Margaret Mackey University of Alberta
  • Leslie Vermeer Grant MacEwan University
  • Dale Storie University of Alberta
  • Elizabeth DeBlois

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20360/G29882

Keywords:

Grade 10 English, teaching materials, text selection, curriculum

Abstract

This article reports on a 2006 survey of texts used in Grade 10 English language arts classes in Edmonton, Alberta.  The survey uses the same instrument as a previous 1996 survey and provides comparative data from a section of the same pool as participated in 1996.  In terms of the most popular titles, there has been very little change during that decade.  To Kill a Mockingbird and Romeo and Juliet continue to be the most widely taught texts by a considerable margin.  Texts taught in only one class show more variability.  Reasons for the striking constancy of the title list are considered.

Author Biographies

Margaret Mackey, University of Alberta

Professor, School of Library and Information Studies

Leslie Vermeer, Grant MacEwan University

Chair, Communication Studies and doctoral candidate at the University of Alberta

Dale Storie, University of Alberta

University of Alberta Libraries

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Published

2012-01-25

How to Cite

Mackey, M., Vermeer, L., Storie, D., & DeBlois, E. (2012). The Constancy of the School "Canon": A Survey of Texts Used in Grade 10 English Language Arts in 2006 and 1996. Language and Literacy, 14(1), 26–58. https://doi.org/10.20360/G29882

Issue

Section

Articles