For more than a generation of teachers, Ken represents the best of English education in this country. Though not an area of academic life often rewarded, for Ken it was teaching that was the most important thing, and that was certainly a sense he passed onto his students. The generation lucky enough to be taught by Ken was inspired by his energising and passionate teaching.
Throughout the 70s and 80s, Ken held senior positions in both the NSW English Teachers' Association and the Australian Association for the Teaching of English and he has since been made a life member of both of those associations. Ken was a long-time member of the member of the NSW 7-10 English Syllabus Committee that created the Syllabus which had a life that ran from 1987 to 2002. He was also a member of Years 11-12 the Syllabus Committee during much of that time. He has, of course, written extensively on English teaching with a book like English Teaching in Perspective being merely the best known because of its wide use in Faculties of Education preparing teachers of English.
Ken Watson took Australia into the international family of English education that founded and bedded down what was then known as “the new English”. His great passion in the 70s was Young Adult literature and Ken led the charge in legitimising its place in school education. In his later years at Sydney University and in retirement, that passion was turned on Shakespeare and manifested itself in the wonderful – and, again, pioneering - work of the St Clair Shakespeare Workshop series.
Ken has always treated students, former students, teachers, novice academics with a rare spirit of collegiality, inclusion and friendship and those of us fortunate enough to work with and for him remain continually grateful.
For these reasons it is fitting that the English Teachers' Association NSW honour Ken by giving his name to the keynote address of the annual conference.