Rick’s point is well taken. We have watered down our education in this country so much that we are turning out High School graduates with the education level of a 5th grader.
As a lawyer, I happen to believe that plain English gets my point across better - and is a lot more pleasant to read - than technically correct language from five centuries ago. I know a lot of lawyers like the tried-and-true verbiage, but you all will agree with me that nobody wants to read it.
You don’t have to use “dumb” words to use the right word!
What really counts is whether the point of the words is correct. I’m all for calling a math equation a “number sentence” if it teaches the kid what the essence of an equation is! Back in my day, most kids just learned math by rote, so it’s the Europeans, Japanese and Chinese kids who mastered the concepts - and produced the profitable engineering, manufacturing and basic research.
I say, sclerotic three-Rs are not worth learning if they’re just going to leave America behind the 8-ball for yet another generation. Let’s put fresh blood into education.
Basqueian about 14 years ago
Well, she’s right.
kab2rb about 14 years ago
I wonder how most proper English teachers feel when a student just does not get it.
davidf42 about 14 years ago
Rick’s point is well taken. We have watered down our education in this country so much that we are turning out High School graduates with the education level of a 5th grader.
avonsalis about 14 years ago
As a lawyer, I happen to believe that plain English gets my point across better - and is a lot more pleasant to read - than technically correct language from five centuries ago. I know a lot of lawyers like the tried-and-true verbiage, but you all will agree with me that nobody wants to read it.
You don’t have to use “dumb” words to use the right word!
What really counts is whether the point of the words is correct. I’m all for calling a math equation a “number sentence” if it teaches the kid what the essence of an equation is! Back in my day, most kids just learned math by rote, so it’s the Europeans, Japanese and Chinese kids who mastered the concepts - and produced the profitable engineering, manufacturing and basic research.
I say, sclerotic three-Rs are not worth learning if they’re just going to leave America behind the 8-ball for yet another generation. Let’s put fresh blood into education.