See The Lowering Skills

So how does providing so many alternative courses and choices, before the basics are understood, assist in delivering a better standard of education? If these same students cannot spell or use language effectively, why let them do media and presentations. They need to learn the purpose of grammar and language, before they learn how to simply show an image. The use of images without the correct language, usually results in the use of the sensational, rather than factual. Effectively mis-informing the intended audience. If they cannot effectively explain what they are showing, then they will rely entirely on the emotional effect. Many current news programs fall into this. There was a news item just tonight which said, “A fit and healthy man died during an operation on his back…. ?” Sorry? Run that one again. If he was fit and healthy, then why was he having an operation on his back. Surely it should have been “ A man undergoing an operation who was generally fit and healthy… etc,etc”. Another recent line surprised me when three men invaded the home of a fifty year old with machetes. Who would invade the home of someone who had machetes? I can only presume they meant, “Three men, armed with machetes, invaded the home of a fifty year old (Though seeing what passes for news today… I wouldn’t be surprised if it was three men, with machetes invaded a fifty year old home”). If something as simple as that is being incorrectly conveyed by current ‘professionals’, then we really should be concerned for the future product coming out of our schools.

I spoke recently with a 72 year old indigenous man, who is appalled at the lack of knowledge and skills the young indigenous people possess. Not just for about their own culture, but in general education. He loves reading and says he was also taught when very young. He referred to the mission schools. Where, despite some appalling situations, he appreciated that he was taught to read and write as well as maths. He stated it has seen him through a good life. Spelling he said, was crucial. The fact that I was recently advised some schools are accepting any spelling. They are referring to English, American or even texting (mobile phone) abbreviations and some phonetic sounded methods, so long as the content is being conveyed. Why? As children we had to get both content and spelling correct. Why lower the standards so dramatically. How will that assist employers in the future. Even some universities are commenting on the dreadful writing skills of many applicants.

Structure of sentences, paragraphs and text, allows broader interpretation and understanding of information. Sure, we can shock with a single visual. But is that the correct visual to inform, or is it being used purely for emotional impact. . We ‘need’ to return to the basics. Reading. Writing and Arithmetic. Though when I asked a group at a school recently if they had a good grasp of Arithmetic and calculations, the teacher had to say loudly “Math, he means Math” No I am certain I meant Arithmetic and calculations or mathematics. What is Math? Surely it would be Maths with the ‘s’ if we used our language correctly. 

(Continued tomorrow)