The American Standard

Blane Covert teaches Honors American Literature, Advanced Writing, and Values & Virtues at Pulaski Academy, a college preparatory school in Little Rock, Arkansas. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Covert serves as the 10th Grade Team Leader and coaches the varsity tennis teams. His teaching awards include The 2001-2002 Meyer Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence, The 2002 St. Vincent College Excellence in Teaching Award, The Pulaski Academy Class of 2003 Favorite Teacher Award, and a selection to Who's Who Among America's Teachers 2004. Covert holds both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.

Many have helped make this anthology possible; I acknowledge their aid with sincere gratitude: Ms. Brenda Holeman, Head of the Pulaski Academy Upper School, for her unending support; the Pulaski Academy English Department... for their friendship and encouragement; Mr. Don Swanson, the Business Manager at Pulaski Academy, for his confidence in the project; Mr. Adam DePriest, Upper School Math Teacher, and Mrs. Beth Shull, Upper School Journalism Teacher, for their formatting expertise; the Pulaski Academy Technology Department... for their technical support; Mr. Stephen M. Bingham, Attorney at Law, for his legal counsel; Ms. Chris Parkison and the entire Bookmasters Team, for their guidance and professionalism; Mr. Ryan Feasel, for the cover design; Mr. John Rockwell, for his permission to use Norman Rockwell's Freedom From Want.

In addition, I would like to thank my family, for everything, and David Kramer, Ph.D., for inspiring me to teach.

Finally, I would like to thank my students; I wish them success and happiness always.

When I began teaching at Pulaski Academy in the fall of 2000, I discovered that the American Literature textbook being used had some glaring omissions, including "Rip Van Winkle," "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," "Annabel Lee," and "Bartleby the Scrivener," to name just a few. Determined to teach these works, I temporarily solved this problem by photocopying and distributing them to students; however, the cost (not to mention the time spent) to run one hundred copies of each work was considerable.

In the spring of 2003, the English Department began looking for new textbooks to replace the series that the school had been using. As I pored over sample copies, I was both disappointed and frustrated to find that the American anthologies on the market no longer represent the established literary canon. Instead of accepting another average, overpriced textbook from one of the major publishers, I decided to edit and publish my own book--a traditional anthology that, I hope, will help students develop an appreciation for America's rich literary heritage.

Blane R. Covert

Little Rock, Arkansas