Wednesday, August 22, 2007
THE WRITE STUFF
What's the most important part of my job?I always ask that of students when I speak at schools and not one has ever given me the answer I want to hear.
The answer (as far as I'm concerned) is writing, and writing well.
If I don't understand what I write, you're not going to understand what I've written when I read it back to you on the air.
I happen to enjoy writing, and good writing includes good spelling and proper grammar.
Yes, spelling and grammar count, and I won't even get into penmanship. (Somewhere down the road they'll be asking, "What's a pen?")
I've heard the argument (even from teachers) that concentrating on spelling and grammar stifles little Joshua and Ashley's creativity. (What ever happened to John and Mary?)
REALLY? Why can't they have it both ways?
Teach them how to spell and construct a sentence properly, THEN let their little imaginations run wild.
If they don't learn early on, they never will.
I've seen it on resumes, and in the writing of young people in journalism.
I've even had attorneys tell me their young lawyers can't write a brief that won't embarrass them, because they border on illiterate.
In this world of instant information and communication, what they do know is text messaging. They're expert abbreviators.
But words are wonderful things, and properly assembled, they can say wonderful things to the world.
Look at the U.S. Constitution. It's a beautiful document in every way. Just imagine if the nation's founders had text messaged it to each other. Come to think of it, do you think our current leaders could produce a piece of work like that?
I guess spelling needs to be sexy again.
Hey, the National Spelling Bee is now a nationally televised "event."
Maybe they can get Joey Fatone to host it. Whatever it takes.
And maybe we can go back to calling elementary schools "grammar schools" again.
But something tells me the dwindling number of us who care are fighting a losing battle.
I hope not, and with the school year about to begin, here's to the teachers who do fight the good fight, and make a difference every day.
In this world of instant information and communication, what they do know is text messaging. They're expert abbreviators.
But words are wonderful things, and properly assembled, they can say wonderful things to the world.
Look at the U.S. Constitution. It's a beautiful document in every way. Just imagine if the nation's founders had text messaged it to each other. Come to think of it, do you think our current leaders could produce a piece of work like that?
I guess spelling needs to be sexy again.
Hey, the National Spelling Bee is now a nationally televised "event."
Maybe they can get Joey Fatone to host it. Whatever it takes.
And maybe we can go back to calling elementary schools "grammar schools" again.
But something tells me the dwindling number of us who care are fighting a losing battle.
I hope not, and with the school year about to begin, here's to the teachers who do fight the good fight, and make a difference every day.
Posted at 12:45 AM by Gerry
6 Comments:
When I was in Middle School they started encouraging teachers to not use red pens. They said it would hurt our self-esteem and stop us from being "The Best!" I suppose in their little bubbles, kids have no need to know how to write... or spell.
But they will...
And when I was in school, I don't believe anyone was terribly concerned about my "self-esteem."
Actually, I doubt anyone had ever HEARD of self-esteem.
But then again, that was before people had "issues." I believe at the time they were called "problems."
"Issues"
Everyone has issues. Think about it as soon as born you have an issue.
Free room and board. Nice and warm place , then someone comes along and pulls you out of it.
Now that would make you a little made wouldn't it?
Or mad...
Thank-you for speaking up for good writing. As an unemployed HS teacher, I can tell you the red pen was wielded and the chaff was separated from the grain. Kids whined. Parents protested.No A's were to be found on freshman papers in September. But by June, they could discourse intelligently about the hubris of Odysseus, the courage of Atticus Finch, and the symbolism of the mockingbird, and write a decent book review. I spent many weekends reading and commenting on their reading journal.Oh, yes, do you remember sentence diagramming? Parts of speech? How many 9th grader came to HS clueless?Far too many.
Sounds as if you should still be in the classroom.
Thanks for the response.
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