09-18-2008, 08:00 PM
The sad part comes from a shift in educational philosophy, at least in the US. I was in an informal writing class, and a High School English teacher told us with satisfaction that "...we don't worry about spelling and grammar any more, the students have computer programs to take care of that. We just want them to get their ideas on paper."
I said, being the perennial smartass, "Ok, so you're having trouble with your car motor. I come to your house with an acetylene torch and a sledge hammer. I say, 'Let's just open the motor up and see what the problem is.' Why do you stop me?"
She said, "Because you don't have the right tools."
I said, "Exactly right. And you're not giving your students the right tools, either. They will be literary cripples all their lives."
We weren't very good friends after that. Go figure.
I said, being the perennial smartass, "Ok, so you're having trouble with your car motor. I come to your house with an acetylene torch and a sledge hammer. I say, 'Let's just open the motor up and see what the problem is.' Why do you stop me?"
She said, "Because you don't have the right tools."
I said, "Exactly right. And you're not giving your students the right tools, either. They will be literary cripples all their lives."
We weren't very good friends after that. Go figure.
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
