Re: Grammar

I agree, Lucy-Ruth...there has to be a time when you learn grammar. I really don't see why anyone couldn't learn most of what they needed to know by the time they were 13. That still gives students a good 3-4 years before they start work on their BA/BS so that when they really become capable of abstract thinking they have the tools to use it...writing in the teen years could be devoted to the development of critical thinking and creativity, then. It's like training training training...then set them loose.

I think that's what many schools here in the US try to do, but I don't know how well that works across the country -- the educational system is no more homogeneous here than it is anywhere else. The inner city High School classroom is given less to work with and has to devote too much time to just keeping control. High schools in wealthy areas, on the other hand, have the ability to do more of what they want.

Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: Lucy Pearson <l_r_pearson@yahoo.co.uk>
To: bananafish@roughdraft.org
Date: Sun, 8 Sep 2002 19:07:40 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Grammar

I don't know what the situation is in America, but I
personally feel that one of the greatest deficiencies
in the British education system is in the teaching of
grammar. Due to the belief that attempting to teach
children inhibits their natural creativity, I received
almost no lessons in grammar. This has made things
very difficult and tiresome for me as I have
progressed through said education system. I deeply
resent university lecturers having to waste their time
explaining to me how a semi colon is supposed to work
(I didn't even realise I was making mistakes until I
began my BA) and I am sure that they resnt it even
more. I have struggled when learning foreign languages
because I can't recognise the subjunctive (for
example) in my own language, never mind another one.
Yes, grammar can be boring, but it is not that
difficult to teach, and once the foundations are laid
down, it can last a lifetime. I am sure that a good
teacher could find ways to make a grammar lesson
interesting as well as useful. A bad teacher, on the
other hand, might not manage to make a free writing
class useful or interesting, but could at least be
trusted to give his / her students a solid grounding
in grammar, however boring.

Well, that's my rant for the day.

Incidentally, I have noticed the tone on the list
getting a tad hostile lately. It leaves something of a
bitter taste in my mouth. I like full on debate as
much as the next fish, but it desn't need to get so
_personal_.

Love (since it needs spreading around), Lucy-Ruth

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Received on Sun Sep 8 14:44:28 2002