Posted on 08/22/2016 3:12:22 PM PDT by Cecily
I was reading BEFORE I entered kindergarten, thanks to the then-new Dr. Seuss books. So you can imagine how boring kindergarten, first grade, and second grade were for me, as those grades are primarily concerned with teaching reading. Instead of giving me more advanced work to keep me constructively busy, the teacher sought to hold me back to the rest of the class's level. She discouraged me going beyond the rest of the class by punishing me, which consisted of putting me out in the hall. I was out in the hall so much, I was on a first-name basis with the principal! And it was not for misdeeds, but for stuff like reading ahead. The principal knew this, which is why he greeted me kindly every time I was in the hall for punishment. However, I wonder why he did not intervene to get me more advanced work. Perhaps in those times, that was not "the thing to do", but it seems like it would have made common sense to do so.
I think it may be a rather sinister coordinated attack-if we get to the point where no one can read cursive, then no one will be able to read historical documents in their original form. They will have to rely on the powers that be to tell them what is in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution or the Federalist Papers that explain them. I hope I’m ridiculously far off, but why sudden and universal push against cursive?
The Chinese have done this with their traditional writing
That deepens my concern.
Public schools were bad when I was in them, now they’re hopeless.
It is evident that holding the pencil or pen is no longer taught. The result will be that many adults will suffer carpal tunnel problems as they enter their thirties, forties, and fifties.
There are still **many** jobs that require filling out forms or using a pen or pencil throughout the work day. It is painful for me to watch young adults use a pencil or pen with their fingers and thumbs in such a cramped and unnatural manner. The strain on their tendons will eventually catch up with them.
Even if penmanship is no longer taught, the proper holding of a writing instrument should be taught so that the tendons of the wrist and thumb can be held in a physiologic normal position.
What are you saying? Have you gone full Seamus?
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