College Writing Instruction Underfunded Despite AI Era Rhetoric
In an article for Inside Higher Ed, John Warner emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced writing education in higher education, especially amid the rise of AI tools. He references Dana Goldstein’s New York Times piece that sheds light on the detrimental effects of students lacking writing skills. Warner criticizes Harvard's decision to overhaul its writing center and part ways with director Jane Rosenzweig, arguing it contradicts their mission. He advocates for improved conditions for writing instructors, proposing a baseline salary of $50,000 and manageable class sizes, to alleviate the financial pressures many educators face and elevate writing instruction standards.
Key facts
- John Warner wrote an opinion piece for Inside Higher Ed on August 21, 2026.
- He references a New York Times article by Dana Goldstein on what students lose when they stop writing.
- Harvard dismissed its writing center director of 20 years, Jane Rosenzweig.
- Warner proposes a minimum salary of $50,000 per year for writing instructors.
- He suggests a maximum of 60 students per instructor across three sections; NCTE recommends 45.
- Most first-year writing instructors are adjunct faculty with precarious employment.
- Warner's books include 'More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI' and 'Why They Can't Write'.
- He argues that AI has made teaching writing harder but also clarified its importance.
Entities
Artists
- John Warner
- Dana Goldstein
- Jane Rosenzweig
Institutions
- Inside Higher Ed
- The New York Times
- Harvard University
- NCTE