[CW] Re: [Fists] Let's Face It!!

[N2EY@aol.com]

In a message dated 2/2/04 12:04:11 AM Eastern Standard Time, N7DC@cs.com 
writes:


> Some 10 years or so ago, I was teaching a ham class to a group of Scouts in 
> 
> the next county over. 

(snip of good story)

 not a one of them knew how to divide by hand.  They 
> 
> were never required to do that in school and always used calculators, and 
> had 
> no idea how to even start using paper and pencil.  
> 

Well, that may be true in some places, but I can tell you for a fact that 
longhand arithmetic is still taught in the public schools around here (Radnor, 
PA). The kids
have *some* access to calculators, but are required to be able to do all the 
usual math stuff by hand as well. And they do quite well. It starts in K and 
by 3rd or 4th grade they're quite good. 

They are also taught how to estimate and do "best guess" calculations as a 
check on their detail work, so they know if their answers are in the right 
ballpark. Also
"word problems" and such.

My immediate experience is limited to the 4th grade so far. The schools are 
why we moved here. The real estate values show it...


> Last week, at the college where I work, I passed a group of students 
> waiting 
> to get into one of the English classrooms:  "Yeah I seen that yesterday."  
> Now 
> I am not an English teacher, and its been over 3 years since I even 
> substituted at a high school level, and that was in a special education 
> classroom, but 
> this sets my teeth on edge when I hear such an error.  I waited around until 
> 
> the professor arrived and caught her out in the hall.  I mentioned what I 
> had 
> just heard and she just grinned and said: "You should read some of their 
> papers," and she added, "they are not taught parts of speech in high school 
> these 
> days."  
> 

I can tell you that such a mistake would cost points in a second-grader's 
essay here. Writing is taught from the very beginning. Second graders are writing 
two-page stories. Fourth graders know how to do an outline, rough draft, 
edit/correct, and final draft. 
> 
> I realize my local schools may be the exception rather than the rule. I'm 
> sure your experiences are as valid as mine. But good public schools with high 
standards do exist today, at least in some places. And guess what - the kids 
*LOVE* them! They enjoy school to an extent I would not have thought possible. 
And they know more, and understand more, than I did at their age. 

So there is hope.

73 de Jim, N2EY




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