Having recently proof-read over 250 school reports, I was astounded by the lack of basic grammar and punctuation skills exhibited by some teachers. Upon thinking of this further, I had a quick flashback back to my own teacher training and schooling, and realised I couldn't recall being specifically taught grammar myself.
This lead to the following wonderings:
*Have we created a cycle over the last few generations where a lack of basic grammar is so ingrained in our practice that it has disappeared altogether?
*How many teachers are actually teaching grammar and punctuation?
* How many teachers are confident enough in their own knowledge of grammar and punctuation to effectively teach / model it?
* What are teacher training institutions doing about this? If anything?!
I truly believe schools and teachers (including myself when I was in the classroom) have become so obsessed and focused on teaching the "Deeper Features" of writing, that the equally important "Surface Features" are being neglected.
Personally, I also believe that we are using the excuse of, "ICT is making it less important" too much. Children of today live in a world of technology. This is the world they live in, much as the world we grew up in was a lot more advanced than our previous generations. The importance and necessity of effective grammar and punctuation hasn't changed, merely the tools they use to deliver these.
I would be interested in your thoughts on this......
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I'm in the mood to be opinionated and the use of language is something that can easily draw it out:
ReplyDeleteI think the use of information technology has really done two things for language:
1. As it's breaking cultural/societal barriers
it's staggering how many new words are being added to the English language every year. You'll see it on those pithy ICT-related clips... Shakespeare had only so many words, where we have so much more!
2. Along with all these new words, our ability to use language well has declined. Where once you would have had to choose your words carefully, now, any combination of words will work as long as it gets your point across.
You can see this tracking mass media from 'traditional' print to contemporary multimedia or web-based media. Where once you would read generally carefully written and edited pieces that were worth being paying for the privilege to read, you can now read endless slop, and don't start me on sloppy journalism.
It's so much easier for any Average-Joe to realise their thoughts, without having to edit, proof or defend their writing. Just like blogs eh!
So Matt, whether this is a trend that stems from the classrooms from years gone by, I'm not in a position to say. However the trend is out there and is widespread, not just limited to teachers, or any single generation!
Of course the impact of email and texting on younger generations is an issue in itself...