What reasoning do you believe is behind the watering down of traditional educational requirements such as cursive writing and mental math?

PO3 Phyllis Maynard — Fri, 15 May 2020 01:34:00 -0400

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.

Response by SN Greg Wright made May 15 at 2020 1:36 AM

SN Greg Wright — Fri, 15 May 2020 01:36:07 -0400

Because uneducated people are easy to sway to vote in the manner the left wants them to. Deny them the ability to critically think for themselves, and suddenly, 'take these handouts for your vote' is easy to swallow.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made May 15 at 2020 2:11 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Fri, 15 May 2020 02:11:40 -0400

I have a family member who's a teacher. When I asked her about why a kid has to draw three pages of grids and squares to solve a simple three line problem the old way, she got offended and said "We don't do drill and kill anymore". So there's no multiplication tables for sure. That means a kid never learns what a number really means. As a dinosaur, I certainly learned the old way. That included doing my first half of college with a slipstick (slide rule). Thing was you only got three numbers of resolution BUT you also had to know where the decimal point went. You had to know at each step if what you were doing made sense. Really important for engineering. We could tie what we were doing to the physical properties. Then the HP-35 showed up. My dad was seldom prouder than scoring me one at half price from his "Jewish Connection". It made things go faster, but we still had to know what the numbers meant and we made fewer decimal location mistakes. Now the pseudo rigor insures the student remains clueless. Even if they get the correct answer, they don't know what it means.
Re: cursive writing. It's starting to make a comeback in some states, blue and red. But it's tragic that kids don't know how to read an analog clock.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2020 2:59 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 May 2020 02:59:19 -0400

I don't see the point of teaching cursive to everyone. We also don't teach everyone Latin or Sanskrit

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made May 15 at 2020 5:22 AM

CW5 Jack Cardwell — Fri, 15 May 2020 05:22:44 -0400

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.

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made May 15 at 2020 10:43 AM

LCDR Joshua Gillespie — Fri, 15 May 2020 10:43:51 -0400

There are myriad reasons for most anything. I suppose at varying levels, lack of funding, time... or just sheer laziness account for most things. However, my personal sense is that our society no longer "values" the art of communication. We are a "short", "abrasive", "in your face" culture that demands people, "get to the point". Professionally, communication is almost extinct. Everything is driven by policy (which is so verbose no one can actually understand it), but the real goal is risk mitigation and reducing liability. In other words, they want you to clock in, shut up, meet the quota, take all your breaks, go the heck home...and for Pete's sake, don't post anything that would grab the attention of the HR folks. Personally, we've distilled communication down from meaningful conversation, to snippets on "text"... or just "memes". People derive their feelings of trust, empathy and even love from whether or not someone "liked" their social media post, "follows" them on Instagram... or "swiped right". The "cookie cutter" approach to education is most likely just trying to produce minimally qualified "drones" who can work a call center or do data entry... knowing the "really smart" kids will be "introverted" to the point of being socially dysfunctional anyway... which doesn't actually "matter" so long as they can code like a champ, and or pace through differential equations (none of which really requires much introspection). "Art" has devolved into whatever someone does that doesn't follow an instruction manual.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made May 16 at 2020 4:42 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Sat, 16 May 2020 04:42:04 -0400

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 Private RallyPoint Member 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