Historical Documents
The First Meeting, December 2, 1911
It was a cold December day in Chicago when the founding members of the National Council of Teachers of English gathered. Approximately 65 men and women met at the Great Northern Hotel, and there NCTE was born. In an ordinary ledger book 35 of those present signed their names as the charter members of NCTE, and also in that ledger are the handwritten minutes of the December 2, 1911, meeting (taken by James Fleming Hosic, first NCTE Executive Director) and meetings which followed in 1912.
Annual Business Meeting, November 29, 1935
NCTE resolutions often address topics of wide concern, and in these minutes of the Annual Business Meeting of Members, November 29, 1935, those assembled considered resolutions regarding impending war, the need for world peace, and their concern that schools and colleges might be "militarized."
Correspondence, Nancy S. Prichard and Ernece B. Kelly, March 16, 1970
When NCTE member Ernece B. Kelly went to a national educational conference in spring 1970, she was so disturbed by the tenor of the discussion on race that she thought it would be a fitting subject for the newly created Task Force on Racism and Bias to pursue. Established in 1969, the Task Force worked quickly, and in November 1970 issued an official NCTE position paper on criteria for teaching inclusive materials in reading and literature. Later, on the same topic, Kelly wrote the NCTE-sponsored Searching for America. This document is a just one of many letters between NCTE staff member Nancy S. Prichard and Kelly regarding the need for inclusive materials and the "real and dangerous pressures" educators face.
See also
Selected Theses and Dissertations Highlighting NCTE's Work
A History of English Journal, 1912-2002
Autobiography, Lou LaBrant, 1954 NCTE President
Listen to an NCTE public service announcement on writing featuring Estelle Parsons on who needs writing
and on educational standards.
Listen to Miles Myers discuss 21st century learning from a 1992 convention session on curriculum for the 21st century.
Listen to James Moffett discuss 21st century learning from a 1992 convention session on curriculum for the 21st century.
Listen to the entire session with both Miles Myers and James Moffett as they discuss 21st century learning from a 1992 convention session on curriculum for the 21st century.
