Making the good reader and citizen: the history of literature instruction in american schools [this institute will examine K-12 educators' and school reformers' changing conceptions of what…

The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded The University of Texas at El Paso $174,648 on January 1, 2026, under the Promotion of the Humanities Professional Development program (CFDA 45.163) to examine K-12 educators' and school reformers' changing conceptions of what constitutes a "good reader" across the twentieth century. The institute will trace two competing traditions in reading instruction: one emphasizing literature's role in students' social, moral, and civic development, and another valuing skill-development and literature as a pathway to scientific, self-disciplined thinking vital to the civic good. Participating teachers will prepare to serve as stronger school leaders and more effective practitioners. Performance takes place in Texas with an ultimate completion date of February 28, 2027. The Research Foundation for the State University of New York, doing business as SUNY Oswego, received a sub-award under this project.

Making the good reader and citizen: the history of literature instruction in american schools [this institute will examine K-12 educators' and school reformers' changing conceptions of what constitutes a "good reader" across the twentieth century. To do so, we will trace two competing traditions in reading instruction: one emphasizes the role of literature in the student's social, moral, and civic development; the other values skill-development and sees literature as a pathway to scientific, self-disciplined thinking that is also vital to the civic good. These tensions matter more today than ever. In developing a deeper understanding of this history, participating teachers will prepare to serve as stronger school leaders and more effective and creative practitioners.]