PERSPECTIVES

This column is designed to provide perspectives on language arts education from beyond the traditional boundaries of the field; that is, from non-educational yet related fields such as linguistics, anthropology, electronic media, literature, psychology, fine arts. In short, it provides perspectives from persons who are scholars in the study of communication or experts whose profession is communicating effectively. Whenever one considers effective or expert communication, one naturally thinks of poetry—language use at its apex. A representative from that field whose views on poetry and children are presented in this column is David McCord, recipient of NCTE's first Excellence in Poetry for Children award which he received at the annual convention in New York City in November. Poetry, Children, and the Encounter Between the Two Mr. McCord was born in New York City, grew up on a ranch in southern Oregon, graduated with highest honors from Lincoln High School in Portland in 1917, and has lived in Boston since he came there to attend Harvard, class of 1921. He is an essayist whose work has appeared widely; also a painter of watercolors. Yet he is first and foremost a poet for both adults and children. His books of poetry fo