I have this theory that one of the reasons why Americans are the way they are about language is because of English and literature teachers.

They often really are a piece of work. I'm not sure what the deal is, whether the profession attracts certain types of bullies the way policing does or whether the training makes them that way.

I do know 11th grade was not the only one. In fact, in all my years of schooling (from the time English became it's own subject, so 6th grade) I only had 2 English/Lit teachers who were like normal human beings and didn't go off on these weird 'language and behavior policing' tangents. Overall, most of my teachers were absolutely stellar.

It's also not been uncommon to reminisce about school days with people and tales of English class typically draw shudders. Nobody likes English class. Many people speak about how much they used to love to read before literature class deprived them of that joy.

It seems, not many of us make it through unscathed or with a high opinion of language and literature.