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Friday, November 23, 2018

Is English class still useful in 2018?

Last week, Rosemary Dewar highlighted a shift in attitude among current high school students. Apparently, this demographic “wants to jumpstart their careers as soon as possible” and they’ve realized that amassing “tens of thousands of dollars in debt before receiving any on-the-job training” isn’t the way to do it. Later on, Dewar calls attention to the educational implications of this change, claiming that teachers will now need “to justify their [courses’] utility” [emphasis added] to college students faced with price tags growing more exorbitant by the year.

To those who value fiscal responsibility, this fresh perspective makes sense. Why would an 18-year-old waste time and money on a product that provides no guarantees of future career-enhancing opportunities? Competitive alternatives to traditional education clearly exist, and it should come as no surprise that kids are smart enough to seek them out.

But, as much as I admire any teenager intelligent and bold enough to break from what’s become a deeply embedded cultural norm, I can’t help worrying about the perceived practicality of high school literature courses (e.g., the ones I teach). And because my current school costs more than many colleges and universities, I think it’s time for a self-audit.

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Publishers Notes: Let us not forget our local weather broadcasters, "TEMCHUR". No kids, we're not deaf! We keep saying, excuse me or huh because we can't understand the freaking words coming out of your mouths, not because we're deaf. Liberals are driving us right back to the stone age. 

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

As long as teachers refuse to enforce ask instead of axe and continue to allow wiff instead of with; the ghetto trash that is allowed to graduate doesn't stand a chance in today's business world! The people with their writing and speaking skills that have been attempting to enter the workforce lately, are not getting in to jobs where communications skills are required.

In too many cases, the resume gives it away (sometimes, it is the college they got a degree from - I didn't say they learned anything!). The remainder are knocked out during the phone interviews...occasionally, one slips through to the face to face interview - where they shoot themselves in the foot.

Anonymous said...

I want to know when trump is getting Rid of Common core.

Anonymous said...

ENGLISH should be a mandatory class at all levels of US education system. You should have to pass with a "C" average in reading, speaking fluently that is understandable and writing minimal. ENGLISH should be the National Language of the US. All communications are totally in English, not English, Spanish, French, German etc. You save on paper, confusion, on ink to print and it will be more economical along with better for the environment. Where is the environmentalist hypocrites by not speaking up. NO ENGLISH NO US.

Anonymous said...

Pacific instead of specific
Frutation instead of fruition

Keep ebonics live and well, keep that hope alive!