How many know about Richard Mitchell, one of the great figures in American education? He was known as the Underground Grammarian and is famous  as the author of books such as "The Graves of Academe." (One interesting footnote. I bet that you would have to explain to MOST college students  these days why that title is witty. If true, that fully  justifies Mitchell's wrath against the dopiness of so much K-12 theory and practice.)

 In researching Mitchell for a little tribute, I found this quote:

 "After sober and judicious consideration, and weighing one thing against another in the interests of reasonable compromise, H. L. Mencken concluded that a startling and dramatic improvement in American education required only that we hang all the professors and burn down the schools. His uncharacteristically moderate proposal was not adopted.”

 I named that proposal the Mencken-Mitchell Manifesto and suggested that "Everyone of sound mind and good heart will enjoy reflecting upon it."

My little tribute turned out to be called "Richard Mitchell: Grammarian not so Underground."  You'll enjoy it.

http://www.examiner.com/article/richard-mitchell-grammarian-not-so-...