Legitimizing the Department's Bastard Child: The Basic Mythology Course.

Legitimizing the basic college mythology course depends in part on the teacher's preparedness and also on the course content and objectives. Both must derive from what the teacher can teach best, what he has sound knowledge of and can handle in an interesting way, coupled with what will best satisfy the needs of students and be of most use in their lives. The following questions should be considered before determining the content focus of a course: (1) Does the content permit preparation that narrows the range of the teacher's required knowledge or does it force the teacher to demonstrate expertise he does not have? (2) Does the content permit legitimate handling by an English teacher and allow for course objectives that are justified in a course offered by the English department? (3) Does the content promote a range of outcomes useful enough to students generally to make that content the best choice for the students' sake? and (4) Does the content meet the growing demand for the meaningful involvement of media and variety in the presentation of course substance as well as a useful variety of experiences for the student? (A description of the author's course is included.) (LL)