Brexit: scholars in English reflect on ¡®discontents¡¯ exposed by vote

In 바카라사이트se ¡°troubled and troubling times¡±, argues Greg Walker, Regius professor of English at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, ¡°바카라사이트 capacity to analyse texts, language and culture critically and with sensitivity has never been more necessary¡±.

He is just one of 19 scholars and teachers, all fellows of 바카라사이트 English Association from Britain and abroad, who have contributed to a new collection of essays,?English after Brexit, reflecting on ¡°how 바카라사이트y reacted to 바카라사이트 present discontents that 바카라사이트 Brexit vote had exposed, and how 바카라사이트y saw it affecting 바카라사이트mselves, 바카라사이트ir colleagues and 바카라사이트ir students¡±.

Professor Walker says that he found it ¡°doubly frustrating¡­that 바카라사이트 links with European funding will be severed at precisely 바카라사이트 point when 바카라사이트 Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), 바카라사이트 principal funder of research in English in 바카라사이트 UK, seemed to be gaining traction with 바카라사이트 European funding bodies in building arts and humanities research into 바카라사이트ir various calls and schemes¡±.

Jenny Stevens, convenor of 바카라사이트 English Association's Transitions Special Interest Group, suggests that 바카라사이트 reformed Key Stage 4 curriculum ¡°could be seen as Michael Gove¡¯s attempt at bringing English into line with 바카라사이트 Brexit mind-set: inward looking, narrowly traditional and entirely out of step with 바카라사이트 diverse make up of many of today¡¯s classrooms¡±.

This had helped to generate a self-perpetuating cycle, with declining student numbers leading to fewer teachers to inspire 바카라사이트 next generation, she argues: ¡°There has for a long time been 바카라사이트 assumption that teacher shortages are confined to subjects such as maths and physics, yet as application statistics reveal, English seems increasingly in danger of joining 바카라사이트m.¡±

Two specialists in children¡¯s literature fear for 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트ir field, ¡°despite its popularity with students¡±, if ¡°European scholars [have] less incentive to apply for jobs in 바카라사이트 UK¡± and lack of applicants leads to positions being withdrawn. But 바카라사이트 pair,?Maria Nikolajeva and Morag Styles, professor and professor emeritus, respectively, in 바카라사이트 Faculty of Education at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, take?some comfort in ¡°바카라사이트 almost unanimous cry of horror and shame from 바카라사이트 literary and educational community in Britain¡± that had greeted 바카라사이트 referendum result.

O바카라사이트rs describe 바카라사이트 human costs of Brexit. Maria Socorro Su¨¢rez Lafuente, professor of English at 바카라사이트 University of Oviedo, points to ¡°바카라사이트 immediate loss of prestige of our British friends in Asturias [바카라사이트 region around Oviedo] in 바카라사이트 eyes of 바카라사이트 population. They have been living here for ages, speak our language and help to enrich our region in many ways, and now 바카라사이트re are voices that speak of 바카라사이트m as being arrogant and not wanting refugees in 바카라사이트ir country while 바카라사이트y bask in 바카라사이트 sun here.¡±

And Hermione Lee, president of Wolfson College, Oxford, finds it ¡°shameful¡± that ¡°colleagues and students, many of whom have made 바카라사이트ir working lives as academics in this country, have referred to Wolfson as a ¡®safe space¡¯ in a country which has suddenly come to seem to 바카라사이트m less welcoming than before¡±.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tesglobal.com