When would any of that ever come up at even the most advanced level of ESL teaching?! It wouldn't. You are unable ti counter the real crux of the matter and are attempting to distract by confusing academic study of the history of English with teaching English as a second language.

He shouldn't be in a any argument concerning the English language. I should walk away; he's so far beneath your level.

The flowers that bloom in the spring,
Tra la,
Have nothing to do with the case.
I've got to take under my wing,
Tra la,
A most unattractive old thing,
Tra la,
With a caricature of a face,
With a caricature of a face.
And that's what I mean when I say, or I sing,
"Oh, bother the flowers that bloom in the spring."
Tra la la la la,
Tra la la la la,
"Oh, bother the flowers of spring."