Posted on May 15, 2020
What reasoning do you believe is behind the watering down of traditional educational requirements such as cursive writing and mental math?
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I went out on a mission to find a vintage version of Hooked On Phonics after I purchased a 2020 version of the reading program. The 2020 version only goes from primary skill to 2nd grade skill at a cost of $199.99. I found a brand new 1993 version of the complete SRA Hooked On Phonics that teaches skills from primary to adult. The original cost in 1993 was $199.99. The set I chose from eBay cost $100.00. For me, the value was not only vintage, but the content that has been scaled back over the years probably will not return. Consider this, the vintage version accommodated the unskilled adult to learn to read. The 2020 version accommodates up to 2nd grade. How does this work out that the adults who will be forging ahead in life and raising children have no means to improve their reading skills pass 2nd grade in this program today. But these same adults have to raise their children, hopefully, into college. I see a rising of a new class structure; "the haves and the have nots". Not only will the "haves" be afforded financial security but they will have educational intellect. The "have nots" will procure scanty employment, will be able to print write their names, and will not be able to manage their finances.
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Education Primary Education
Posted >1 y ago
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Thank you my friend PO3 Phyllis Maynard for posting a timely question - timely since most students are learning remotely now.
1. While cursive writing is indeed a challenging subject to master for an educator to both teach and evaluate, it is important for understanding history and our primary historical documents such as the declaration of independence, US Constitution, Bill of Rights, Magna carta, etc.
2. Since checks became a rare things and finger signing for payment is common, signatures are not as authoritative as they once were. That is sad IMHO.
3. On the other hand mental math like school prayer may not be taught or even allowed and yet students engage in both :-)
4. I concur with our friend SP5 Jim Curry's response that teacher's unions tend to have more sway over educational goals and parameters that parents and common sense all too often.
What do you think? LTC Wayne Brandon LTC (Join to see) Maj Robert Thornton Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. CPT Paul Whitmer Maj Marty Hogan SFC John Lich Sgt Jackie Julius SGT Steve McFarland PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG William Jones SSG Franklin Briant SPC Nancy Greene Sgt Kelli Mays COL Mikel J. Burroughs
1. While cursive writing is indeed a challenging subject to master for an educator to both teach and evaluate, it is important for understanding history and our primary historical documents such as the declaration of independence, US Constitution, Bill of Rights, Magna carta, etc.
2. Since checks became a rare things and finger signing for payment is common, signatures are not as authoritative as they once were. That is sad IMHO.
3. On the other hand mental math like school prayer may not be taught or even allowed and yet students engage in both :-)
4. I concur with our friend SP5 Jim Curry's response that teacher's unions tend to have more sway over educational goals and parameters that parents and common sense all too often.
What do you think? LTC Wayne Brandon LTC (Join to see) Maj Robert Thornton Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. CPT Paul Whitmer Maj Marty Hogan SFC John Lich Sgt Jackie Julius SGT Steve McFarland PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG William Jones SSG Franklin Briant SPC Nancy Greene Sgt Kelli Mays COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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PO3 Phyllis Maynard
LTC Stephen F. I completely agree with your assessment. In order to read a d understand these great Founding Documents the reader needs the strong foundation of the fundamentals. We do finger write now. But just like COVID-19 had taken us back to basics, the threat of continuous every sources to run electrical power could down computers and send us back to pen and paper. Many of those who promote dumbing down skills have those very skills. CASTE STSTEM = HAVES AND HAVE NOTS
Skilled in mental math are few and far between. It is being taught let the computer computate. So we have a growing number of adults who cannot make basic change in a money transaction.
Skilled in mental math are few and far between. It is being taught let the computer computate. So we have a growing number of adults who cannot make basic change in a money transaction.
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LTC (Join to see)
I believe first and foremost that teachers' unions are the cause for the decline in the educational process. They are only in the teaching profession to get a pay check and with the least amount of effort exerted. Next, technology has made our children lazy and why learn cursive writing when they can use a word processor program to communicate with others? Cursive may be difficult to decypher when read but it is still a much needed subject to be taught in school. Mathematics has fallen by the wayside because your computer can figure out the answer for you. Look at the people who make change at the fast food places. They cannot make change without looking at the machine to tell them how much comes back to you.
It is a sad state of affairs when your child cannot make simple calculations in their head and don't need a calculator to give them the answer. Phyllis has hit on a timely question and I agree with you Stephen.
It is a sad state of affairs when your child cannot make simple calculations in their head and don't need a calculator to give them the answer. Phyllis has hit on a timely question and I agree with you Stephen.
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They seem to want education "easier" so all get passed on to the next level. I graduated High School in 1972 as an average student. Over the past 10 or so years I feel like a genius when interacting with the newer college graduates.
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PO3 Phyllis Maynard
CW5 Jack Cardwell and I graduated in 1978 from High School with heart palpitations because they pumped "good traditional" education in me. And these days adding 4 single numbers mentally seems to be abuse.
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I don't see the point of teaching cursive to everyone. We also don't teach everyone Latin or Sanskrit
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LTC (Join to see)
I totaly agree with the math stuff but I don't remember the last time I wrote anything in cursive. It's not a skill everyone needs.
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PO3 Phyllis Maynard
Latin and Sanskrit were not foundations in our educational system or society. Founding Fathers documents were written in cursive. Society is do stupid now because those of us who should promote preserving what is tried and tested continue to jump on the stupid bandwagon. I'm sure the culture founded on Latin and Sanskrit are not urinating away everything that defined them.
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PO3 Phyllis Maynard
LTC (Join to see) the "have nots" don't need it because they will be guided by the haves. New Slavery - Undereducation and Uneducated.
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