Although ours is a required subject for all students 9-12, those of us who teach English strive to sprinkle in enough variety throughout the year to provide not only some challenges but also some enjoyment. By its very nature, English, as a subject, involves the study of basic grammar, vocabulary, literature, and composition.

Depending on the grade level, students study selections from various genres: short stories, novels, essays, poetry, and drama. Whether it is a journey with Odysseus, adventures on the Mississippi River with Huck Finn, a pilgrimage with Chaucer, or a trip of a different sort with Dante, there is much to learn from these timeless works. These classics and others like them also provide opportunities for lively discussions, creative thinking and writing, and a chance for us, as teachers, to kindle a flame in the fertile minds of our students to better themselves through oral and written communication.

In all four grade levels there is an honors track for those who already have a solid grammar background, good writing skills, initiative, the ability to work and think independently, and the recommendation of their current English teacher.

Our program, hopefully, reflects not only the content of the subject matter but also the personality and character of each member of the English faculty. The department, however, is only as good as its individual members, and here at Lipscomb the focus is always on being Christ-like. Before we can expect our students to be good examples, we must be; before they learn the "importance" of the literature that we try to teach, they must see that the Bible surpasses all of that; before they worry about passing our classes, they must learn that serving God and reaching heaven are their primary goals in this life.