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Typical liberal ideology: "The entire world conform to me me me me me me me me and what makes me me me me me me me me me happy. And if you don't, you're a HATEFUL racist biggot and really mean."

Yeah, it's a "feelings issue".

But this one really shows how out of touch academics are:

“We cling to handwriting out of a romantic sense that script expresses identity.”

No we don't. I write because it's practical and necessary, bonehead. Maybe in acedemia hand writing isn't needed anymore, but it definitely is in my job. When I'm standing outside in the middle of winter measuring stuff and taking notes, I'm not going to type it out on a computer. I don't think people like this understand that some people actually still do real work.

It's similar to the stories a few years ago about not bothering to teach kids to add/subtract now that they have Excel and the Internet. I used to wonder, how are people then going to do calculations if their laptop goes down? But now I realize it won't matter. Since they won't be able to write anything, what difference does it make if they can think or not?

Moonbat educrats cancel visit by Iraq Veterans after left-wingers complain, so kids skip school to see them speak.

Here we see the sheer horror experienced by one of the ruling class at the thought that they've produced a stupid child.

"Here we see the sheer horror experienced by one of the ruling class at the thought that they've produced a stupid child." - Ian

True. He may be lousy at writing for now, which clearly horrifies her, but the kid may be good at woodworking, or fixing cars or whatever. But I'm sure the elitist Mom will do her best to make sure he never finds out.

Yeah, when writing instruments and paper are eliminated (to fight global warming) and all communications are electronic, it will be so easy for "Big Brother" to monitor our words and maybe alter a few here and there, to their liking, as they archive your info.

When paper books and libraries are eliminated and all books are online, again, it will be easy to make a few "editing decisions" by the Ministry of Truth.

Go back and read "1984" and "Fahrenheit 451".

Here we see the sheer horror experienced by one of the ruling class at the thought that they've produced a stupid child.

George H.W. and Barbara Bush feel your pain.

My son is in the 10th grade and he *still* does not write anything in cursive -- he prints. The schools don't require cursive or even encourage it. He's even going to a private school.

The comments about learning math remind me of an anecdote... I used to hang out with a group of college-aged (stereotypically liberal) students who lived near me. We were playing darts one night and the person I was playing with could not do in her head the simple math required to compute her scores. I had to do it for her. I felt embarrassed for her, but she seemed unfazed. Apparently, you don't even have to be able to multiply 2x18 to get into college.

15 year olds aren't expected to do joined up writing?!

You're joking, right?

"... handwriting is a historical blip in the long history of writing technologies, and it's time to consign to the trash heap this artificial way of making letters ..."

At the rate we are heading, maybe he's correct in not teaching how to write in English. Arabic doesn't look anything like English.

This poor foolish teacher can't think of any reason why a child would have to sign their own name? Drivers License Application, Job Application, or Mortgage Application are a few examples of why you'd need to write your own name. (Not to mention maybe signing the back of your paycheck.)

No need to right? Has this person forgotten about how school works?

I take 5 pages of notes a day during classes, all by hand. They're arguing that you could just give them computers, please, no high school that I know of could afford that. Even if you did manage to hike up taxes enough to do that handwritten notes offer a distinct advantage over simple computer notes, being able to easily and quickly make graphs, erase, and categorize.

Well, I always received poor "penmanship" grades. So?

But I knew by first grade which way a "G" or "t" faced.

OTOH, a nephew of mine had considerable trouble in this same way. Unfortunately, it was not until he was in his last year of school that he was diagnosed as dyslexic - his parents refused the tests for years. I think it was a contributing, perhaps major, factor in his anti-social and belligerent life.

Yet neither in the article nor comments is the possibility raised of dyslexia. Perhaps it was in fact tested for, but not mentioned - but all those comments as well?

Lowest common denominator.

No child should be allowed to do better than another.

It goes a long way towards ridding America of pesky leaders born from individual achievement rather than union seniority.

Global Warming Scare -

Or, "Doh! I forgot it was the end of summer in the southern hemisphere."

Huge Antarctic ice chunk collapsesStory Highlights
Antarctic ice chunk seven times the size of Manhattan collapses

Rest of ice shelf is hanging by a narrow beam of thin ice

Larger, more dramatic ice collapses occurred in 2002 and 1995

Next Article in Technology »

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/03/25/antartica.collapse.ap/index.html

No use for "arcane technologies", eh? How many of the posters here keep a PAD AND PENCIL next to their computer?

Ever get a letter from a loved one? Hand-written letters are something to be treasured! It something your friend/family/lover touched and created, it's like some mystic charm that briefly connects you both. When I was in the air force, we would sometimes read our letters to each other, and the letter became a connection that was better than any "group hug" I ever indulged in!

Here's one to write moma about....

Oregon Man Says He's Pregnant
Transgendered Man Writes In 'The Advocate'

Claims Doctors won't treat him/her/she-it. Smart Doctors are probably worried about a John Edwards style suit..............

I have problems with a pregnant 'man' using the same restroom as I do because its PC.

http://www.kptv.com/health/15702121/detail.html

Exhibit #42,119 in the "Why I fled Portland, OR" file...
The report says "Thomas Beatie, who used to be a woman...." Uh, sorry, moonbat reporter, "Thomas" is still a woman - genetically and physiologically. Chopping off "Tom's" hooters and shooting her full of hormones doesn't make her a man, anymore than a mastectomy and menopause would. I shudder to think what all that extra testosterone is doing to the fetus. Sounds like the perfect patient for the UK's new genetic experimentation program.

ent,
As a teacher in a great suburban school system I can tell you that private school education is not better.
Private schools do not have the funding for programs public schools do in academics.
Also, they can hire any teachers they want, who are generally not certified or highly qualified according to the new standards. Especially since private schools don't pay nearly as much as public schools.
One thing positive I can say about No Child Left Behind (NCLB) from our current administration is the higher standards placed on teachers. There is nothing wrong with high standards. Along with the tougher standards, however, is the increase in pay that teachers are given. Not to mention the motivation for teachers to continue their own education while teaching.
The only reason why I would ever consider puting a kid in private school would be due to the environment of the city. I used to live and teach in Memphis, and I can tell you that there was no way in hell I would allow my kids to go to school there. That is why I moved far away to a suburban area in another state. Great schools.

KHarn,
Hit the nail on the head man.
Nothing like opening up an envelope and reading someon's handwritten letter. Much more meaningful then text on a screen.

I think Ian has it right. It isn't about all the kids having to suffer through learning to write, it's about HER kid not doing well.

It really says something about the capabilties of liberal-educatred 'professors' when they can't even teach their own kids to write!

Remind me not to go to any of her classes. I don't plan on being illiterate for the military.

Ian,
No, not joking.

UCA,
Yes, I've discovered that the education at our private, Christian school doesn't appear to be a whole lot better than we were seeing in the public school. Our main reason for sending the kids to private school was for a better, safer, saner social environment. And the relative lack of political correctness and liberal indoctrination.

It's really great to see Kharn in particular comment on this. I really have to laugh out loud. Here is a guy who can't write a complete senntence or spell to save his life. He's a guy who clearly lacks a thorough education and who then rants about the importance of literacy education and letter writing of all things!

Oh the sweet sweet irony.

Where's that other semi literate wingnut Jimbo? He's gotta have something to incomprehensibly type about this too. Oh I can't wait! Whoops, I see it, now. Haha.

I find it unbeliveably entertaining reading poorly educated give suggestions about how to educate.

Kharn, I'd say that the complete opposite of whatever and however you were taught is probably the best way to go. That way the poor kiddies won't have to join the military as a last recourse.

He probably doesn't bathe either. Should we do away with soap?

Kharn, I'd say that the complete opposite of whatever and however you were taught is probably the best way to go. That way the poor kiddies won't have to join the military as a last recourse.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 26, 2008 2:59 AM

I find it amazing that the "Socialist Liberal" comments via insults to others, offers no intelligent solutions whatsoever, and completely misses the point. One does not have to be a world class speller to have a rational and logical thought process. I am quite sick of the liberal modus operandi of put downs and insults as a means of debate which tells me you may be able to spell, but you can't come up with a productive comment. Heck you can't even come up with a unique moniker to comment under so we know which idiot you are. You are the most pathetic excuse for a troll I have ever seen. Grow a brain, grow some balls and come up with an original thought once inawhile!!!! You people make me sick and ashamed that I was ever a liberal. Thank God for enlightenment!

Hoosier mom you are proving the point of the academic quoted above. Spelling and grammar don't matter...Penmanship dosen't matter, so why teach it.

Using the words "God" and "enlightenment" right next to each other is an oxymoron.

And you continue to rant against insults form the left while dishing out some of the most hateful and vile insults on this blog! It's amazing. Aren't you the same Hoosier Mom who recently called the gays in SF evil and then wished death upon them? You are truly a pathetic hypocrite. You want my name so that you can insult me and wish death upon me personally? Enlightened? Far from it ma'am.

"Anonymous at March 26, 2008 2:59 AM"

TEN ERRORS! You sure showed me!

Ok; that last post by Anon made me laugh 'till I wet myself. I really hope someone else caught why.

Typical liberal ideology: "The entire world MUST conform to me me me me me me me me and what makes me me me me me me me me me happy. And if you don't, you're a HATEFUL racist biggot and really mean."
Most people outgrow that by the second or third grade.

Mrs. Doody.

Yes, we made jokes about the name.

Second Grade is no place for babies.

She was a tyrant. Damn her eyes!

But, today I have a nice cursive hand.

But I still live the nightmare. And I'm not happy about it! Doody!