Lessons in education, part 2 (two… too)
Another question raised about the course of study in our school deals with the hairy topic of basic skills. How many times has the “Back To Basics” been a rallying cry through the ages? Do our children receive an education equal to our own?
Is a child able to read? In a font other than Arial Black? This is as valid a question as one wanting to know if we still instruct students in the black art of cursive writing (writhing). Much wringing of hands on this one. My own years of instruction in the MacLean Method Of Writing left me with a need to relearn how to write when it came time to transcribe notes in university. Speed equals small, don’t you know? Is the ability to sign a cheque still useful in a world of electronic fund transfer? Why can’t we read the hentracks of others?
How about basic arithmetic skills? Do students have to remove their shoes when calculating sums beyond eight (thumbs are not REALLY fingers, are they?) In a world where the calculator has replaced lined paper and a green eyeshade, how much time should be given to the “Times Tables”. After all, my scribblers had a copy on the back cover, even if we were forbidden to use this as a reference. Would a set of “Log Tables” be useful to anyone, anymore? My kingdom for a sliderule.
Obviously, the development and evaluation of our curriculum requires a think tank.
