It is absurd to suggest that because (say) Cumbrian folksong can be studied at postgraduate level within the history department at a given university English folk music and song receive as much emphasis and service by undergraduate studies as Scottish and Irish do -when there are degre courses in the latter but not the former (except as part of a combined degree at Newcastle).

It is equally absurd to suggest that because an aspect of study of English folk music and song might benefit from evaluation of sources and influences from other nations, English folk music and song can only be studied as part of a study of traditional music in general.

As far as I know the possibility of study of folk song under history departments does not include a performance element.

In fact, the arguments of those who seem opposed to the idea of an undergraduate course in English folk music and song seem only to emphasise the need for such a thing.

I am not unfamiliar with university education. I have two degrees (both at undergraduate level) and teach at two universities.

And Doc Tom contradicts himself. In one breath he says "regionality of style is a consequence of local interaction between musicians/singers. This even pertains within the late 20th folk revival - where we can show stylistic commonplaces within a narrow area" but in another he says "the increase in geographic mobility; the dissolution of local support and familial networks (for the general populace rather than the exceptional traveller)- all mitigate (by which I think he means "militate") against the development or even the maintenance of regional characteristics".