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#162751 - 10/23/06 02:20 PM Grammar
Debit Offline
stranger

Registered: 10/23/06
Posts: 2
Loc: Laurel, MD
There was a wonderful article in the Washington Post this morning that gave me heart about the education level of the next generation:
Clauses and Commas Make a Comeback.

Thank goodness!

Of course, this is just for US schools. I'd be interested in knowing if grammar lessons vanished from other countries' schools as well.

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#162752 - 10/24/06 11:46 AM Re: Grammar
Zed Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 08/27/02
Posts: 2154
Loc: British Columbia, Canada
They did from Canada and while I was grateful at the time I regret it now.

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#162753 - 10/24/06 05:18 PM Re: Grammar
Faldage Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 13659
Maybe they just put grammar teaching on hold till they figured out what the rules really were.

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#162754 - 10/30/06 01:11 AM Re: Grammar
Father Steve Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 09/06/00
Posts: 2788
Loc: Seattle, Washington, USA
Thanks be to God. Now, if they would just restore the teaching of history in the Mother Country, that would be a sign that the world was not about to end.

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#162755 - 10/30/06 05:36 AM Re: Grammar
Faldage Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 13659
Quote:

Now, if they would just restore the teaching of history in the Mother Country, that would be a sign that the world was not about to end.



Might could consider teaching it here, too.

Hint: Who won the War of 1812?

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#162756 - 10/30/06 06:30 AM Re: Grammar
AnnaStrophic Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 03/15/00
Posts: 6511
Loc: lower upstate New York
Quote:

Maybe they just put grammar teaching on hold till they figured out what the rules really were.



Just observe any three-year-old.

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#162757 - 11/01/06 06:57 AM Re: Grammar
BranShea Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 06/23/06
Posts: 5249
Loc: Netherlands, the Hague
As we are faithful followers of American novelties, the great sack of the grammar system took place here as well. Half way down the seventies.
Same thing, same complaints. University students unable to write a clear article and teachers not knowing the rules themselves.

We have a yearly national dictation contest on TV (the Grand Dictation of Dutch language) between Dutch and Flemisch- Belgian pariticipants which is practically always won by the Belgians. (who stayed more conservative in their education system)

Watchers of the program can join in at home.
I's fun to participate, not easy, very fast . All reading signs count.
It's about 30 lines long and the avarage failure rate on spellng and reading signs sits around 30. The big Winner mostly had one or two mistakes.

I hope we too will find a repair for two generations lost in grammar
limbo.

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#162758 - 11/01/06 02:13 PM Re: Grammar
Father Steve Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 09/06/00
Posts: 2788
Loc: Seattle, Washington, USA
Might could consider teaching it here, too.

The teaching of history in the US of A has fallen prey to a kind of political correctness which so warps the process that perhaps it is better left untaught.

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#162759 - 11/01/06 09:54 PM Re: Grammar
themilum Offline
veteran

Registered: 05/25/02
Posts: 1529
Loc: Aladamnbama the most watered s...
Well said, Father Steve. Sad, but well said.

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#162760 - 11/03/06 09:07 PM Re: Grammar
ParkinT Offline
enthusiast

Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 293
Loc: Orlando
Quote:

University students unable to write a clear article and teachers not knowing the rules themselves.



On a similiar note: I have a son in college.
His written assignments must be submitted in hardcopy and electronically.
I asked why and learned of a web resource the professors at his University use to detect plagurism. The electronic version is submitted to a site that automatically compares blocks of text to known sources.
Technology has taken away our need to learn to add, spell, form proper sentences.
But it is interesting that it also simplifies the detection of cheating!
_________________________
"I am certain there is too much certainty in the world" -Michael Crichton

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