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Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve
I think eryone will prolly scuze u 4 it, cept the English teach.
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Your are probably correct, and that's a pity. Lowered expectations are as bad as ignorance of what is proper.
Teaching in the public school system, I take it personally when one demonstrates that the accusations of inadequate student skills may be accurate.
I fault the elementary schools. Local studies indicate students enter junior high with 4th grade reading, writing and spelling skills. It doesn't get much better after that. My personal opinon is that no one should be allowed to leave sixth grade without the appropriate skills.
At the high school level we have institued "writing across the curriculum" by which students are required to write essays in and about each class they take, including math and P.E. But even that cannot compete with the amount of time students are allowed to spend instant messaging, text messaging, and playing computer games at home.
I truly fear that today's high school students will see a much larger division between between the social classes due to the widening gap between AP students and the unfortunate "norm", particularly in communication skills.
Oh, it should be noted that I am not an English teacher, although last semester I taught a lit. class. I have "endorsements" in English, history, music and several CTE areas. Music was my major in college, English and history were fascinations in which I achieved "minors" and CTE is my current passion, my favorite subject area and a course area of additional and current study.
End of rant.