tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post4598111778410350576..comments2024-03-22T05:45:28.281-07:00Comments on Departing the Text: Invigorating Instruction: Finding Relevancy in English!MERYL JAFFE, PhD - parent, psychologist, teacher, author...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10310099341897509058noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-91742295689269862832011-09-22T15:15:10.185-07:002011-09-22T15:15:10.185-07:00As an English Lit major educated in England, I'...As an English Lit major educated in England, I'm with you there! I'm now 73 and I find I'm enjoying and understanding English Lit more and more. I'm also finding books and poems I have never read before. Sadly, my spelling skills on which I prided myself are declining. I know when I've spelled a word wrong, but often can't figure out what is the right way. The decline of the English language will, I fear, be the decline of western civilization.ChrisJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550420299395301062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-14327273471102065632011-09-16T15:40:15.837-07:002011-09-16T15:40:15.837-07:00Very nice post! But who needs kids anyway;o)
I'...Very nice post! But who needs kids anyway;o)<br />I'm just kidding! Wonder what I would do as a job if there weren't any;o)<br />Thanks for sharing. And thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment even if you seem not to like insects very much;o)<br /><br />¤ Have a great weekend ¤Mildredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12309485701972118992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-27419694230116875922011-09-15T18:09:52.947-07:002011-09-15T18:09:52.947-07:00The percentages might be a startling change, but w...The percentages might be a startling change, but what are the numbers? In 1970, you didn't need a college degree to get an entry level position... now you do. As more and more people go to college (and accrue choking loans to do so), what "college" means has radically shifted. These business majors are not going to the sort of elite liberal arts colleges that I think you and all of these posters are thinking of where people "learn how to think" and sit around discussing great writers. Those sorts of colleges don't even /offer/ business majors. <br /><br />I agree that these figures are concerning, but it's not because people don't appreciate English anymore. It's because people who aren't really interested in a liberal arts education, and who 30 years ago wouldn't have attended a 4 year college, are being forced to pay exorbitant sums of money to attend sub-par degree granting institutions (many of them private) in order to get entry level positions that in no rational way require a liberal arts training. You'd be insane to go for an English major at Kaplan or the University of Phoenix, when you're gunning for an entry level position in HR at a medium sized local company.<br /><br />-MeganAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-22190363621530727642011-09-15T10:04:31.295-07:002011-09-15T10:04:31.295-07:00How very well "said". I am a writer and...How very well "said". I am a writer and I can't tell you how many times I have struggled with proper v. improper usage ... not to mention the struggle with using my "literary license" to have sentences come out the way they do sometimes ... anyhow, good post. And I am following from the hop today - hope you can come by today and return the favor. http://www.shaunanosler.blogspot.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-84571379211414483982011-09-15T07:29:20.904-07:002011-09-15T07:29:20.904-07:00Interesting and informative as always. It is tragi...Interesting and informative as always. It is tragic (to me too) the direction our language is going. But, I suppose nothing is statiPaula Scott Molokai Girl Studiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358261311454047999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-70154713523786489552011-09-14T05:03:52.340-07:002011-09-14T05:03:52.340-07:00Absolutely.
I have noticed that my younger son wh...Absolutely.<br /><br />I have noticed that my younger son who reads a lot is better at writing than my less-of-a-reader older son. <br /><br />It takes good teachers though.Liz Hindshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-29530258940665644582011-09-13T22:40:50.706-07:002011-09-13T22:40:50.706-07:00I was in university English departments for about ...I was in university English departments for about 20 years. Literature and writing classes were required, but I always felt like we were working at odds with the other classes they were taking because they never seemed to emphasize the literature of their fields, just the facts. They seemed to think that it was totally our job to how to read, write, and analyze the written word.Julie Farrarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08810771028650707072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-47241090242568102232011-09-13T19:42:23.185-07:002011-09-13T19:42:23.185-07:00I think English is the basis for all education. If...I think English is the basis for all education. If you can't read and write any further education is pretty tough. :-) <br />I am a new GFC fan from <a href="http://my-2-cents.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">My 2 Cents</a> <br />** just posted my WW with linky post feel free to participate. <3Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11164744462281205786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-55537575531454931152011-09-13T18:46:39.012-07:002011-09-13T18:46:39.012-07:00I used to love reading, well I still like to read ...I used to love reading, well I still like to read but very little time. I am glad that my kids love to be read with books.Chubskulit Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05001712096042262296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-85154116274105119072011-09-13T17:50:35.479-07:002011-09-13T17:50:35.479-07:00Great post. I'm old fashioned, I guess, but I ...Great post. I'm old fashioned, I guess, but I think a well rounded liberal arts education is important.Carverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05968919406427737503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-28950179681392378232011-09-13T13:20:04.746-07:002011-09-13T13:20:04.746-07:00Employer surveys always come up with the comment t...Employer surveys always come up with the comment that young people starting work do not seem equipped with literacy to carry out day to day business communication. Proves what you say about a narrow education.Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00253875352864018195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-78653749460850043262011-09-13T12:29:47.886-07:002011-09-13T12:29:47.886-07:00I think you can't always let this fall on the ...I think you can't always let this fall on the parents as a blame thing. I am a reader - my daughter is a reader - my son is not. No amount of encouragement throughout his life could turn him into one.Chronicles of Illusionshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16168156674895078729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-295927830591273072011-09-13T11:58:00.671-07:002011-09-13T11:58:00.671-07:00Strangely enough my children never needed any enco...Strangely enough my children never needed any encouragement to read. They love reading, like my husband and I, and now their children. It was not difficult to find them presents. My daughters read Dutch, French and of course English books.<br />Great article!Reader Wilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06384603525251159272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-56319370255100555812011-09-13T10:46:42.215-07:002011-09-13T10:46:42.215-07:00I can't help but wonder if the down-grading of...I can't help but wonder if the down-grading of the perceived value of English Lit is at least somewhat related to the "teach to the test" mentality that has been forced on so many teachers.Maude Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03669688074743095866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-73165149487537164202011-09-13T10:02:24.487-07:002011-09-13T10:02:24.487-07:00I am impressed with Gigi Ann's comments and wh...I am impressed with Gigi Ann's comments and what she did.<br />Kids sometimes just need a bit of direction.photowannabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11760961275666768173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-45833301354384978142011-09-13T09:31:02.438-07:002011-09-13T09:31:02.438-07:00Yesterday while visiting our local library, there ...Yesterday while visiting our local library, there were 4 boys (juniors in high school) laying in and on the couch and chairs provided for us to enjoy, with their books open, but they were trying to sleep. So I chose a book off the shelf, wriggled my way between them and set down in the middle of the couch. Their teacher came along and told them to at least have their books open and try to look like they were reading, So this old Gramma, started to ask them questions about what they were reading. One said, "reading is boring," I corrected him and said, No reading is not boring, if it is, we ourselves our to blame. Then one boy said, "I read enough of my book I know what it is about." I asked him if it was a Thriller, suspense, mystery or romance book? Well that got a giggle out of all of them. He said it was about a kid in prison. So I begin to ask him questions about why he was in prison, was he be treated OK, if not who was giving him a difficult time? We were having a nice discussion about his book, but then it came time they had to go back to school. The teacher commented that I probably got him to talk about the book, more than anyone else could have. I thought to myself, DUH... she just left them set there and sleep, when they were to be reading, what could she expect? Now I'll climb down off my soapbox... Gigi Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08092019687497845746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-28350534697964859492011-09-13T09:15:03.733-07:002011-09-13T09:15:03.733-07:00There was a time when I just knew I was headed tow...There was a time when I just knew I was headed toward a PhD in English. Life and other factors intervened early, but my work toward that goal has stayed with me. I'm still a voracious reader and often a persnickety grammarian. On the other hand, I can allow myself the luxury of "playing" with the language because I understand it. The English language, is, to me, a never-ending source of fun. My brothers feel the same way. Our sister, however, studied bookkeeping and now works for lawyers. We always feel sorry for her, because we can carry our own entertainment around in our heads, whereas she can't.<br />— K<br /><br />Kay, Alberta, Canada<br />An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous TravelKay L. Davieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09966266404058177742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-18159190252722433072011-09-13T08:24:08.241-07:002011-09-13T08:24:08.241-07:00UAlbany dropped some foreign languages recently, i...UAlbany dropped some foreign languages recently, in a cost-cutting moving. Terrible!Roger Owen Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05298172138307632062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-43076369222214010272011-09-13T08:20:32.350-07:002011-09-13T08:20:32.350-07:00Interesting; my post has to do with the English la...Interesting; my post has to do with the English language too.Berownehttp://savagereflections.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-85078767152394659082011-09-13T08:16:36.002-07:002011-09-13T08:16:36.002-07:00I think an awful lot of this falls on the parents....I think an awful lot of this falls on the parents. Both of my kids are avid readers and my daughter took honors classes in English in high school and is doing the same in college. Because our home has always been filled with books, they learned at a young age that it was something to be desired. I, too, think it's a mistake to narrow the focus in education to "practical" studies. I have a degree in business, but it was the English education I received that has sustained my day career as a paralegal. I'm afraid that this is part of what appears to be a concerted effort to denigrate education and intellectualism in general and we definitely need to fight back any way we can.Ruth Hartman Bergehttp://www.ruththewriter.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-88831331518017497212011-09-13T08:15:13.441-07:002011-09-13T08:15:13.441-07:00I was always like the little girl at the end of yo...I was always like the little girl at the end of your post - still am! I read until my eyes blur and I can't see anymore...Now, as a tutor, I'm still being "educated" by my students. They bring their reading lists to me every September and I start in so I am able to direct them accordingly. I can't believe the books on their lists - from theology to philosophy to civilization to postmodernism, etc. I believe they're getting a more rounded literary education than I had even at the university level as it's not rote learning these days, but responding to the ideas within the words and showing how it relates to our world today. It's hard work for me, too, but so gratifying to be able to have such intelligent conversations about ideas and isms with these wonderful kids...well, young people! Wonderful post as usual, Meryl.<br /><br />Leslie<br />abcw teamLeslie:https://www.blogger.com/profile/11964698251137788839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-85033316440634764372011-09-13T08:14:59.776-07:002011-09-13T08:14:59.776-07:00Oh how you are preaching to the choir here! It'...Oh how you are preaching to the choir here! It's incredulous to me that English, writing, literature, etc. is not viewed as relevant in today's electronic world. Really? I didn't know just because you works on a computer that you weren't using language skills. I could go on...and on...and on... :-)<br /><br />Stepping down from my soapbox, I noticed we were the first two links today at ABC Wednesday! Yea! Hope you're having a great day.Lisahttp://www.peripheralperceptions.org/2011/09/13/i-is-for-isaac/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535525493775623042.post-83405279250661270022011-09-13T07:24:27.642-07:002011-09-13T07:24:27.642-07:00English (in fact any first language of a student) ...English (in fact any first language of a student) needs to be studied to its fullest to broaden the mind and enable people to better articulate and comprehend the nuances of thought. And just when people think language is narrowed to short messages and slang out come a series of books (with little to no illustrations) like Harry Potter. Kids can’t stop reading the thousands of carefully chosen and creative words that trigger their imaginations. People are inclined to think that a study of finances will lead to better jobs. But to deeply comprehend ones language can lead to fuller life experiences and better opportunities for writers and readers.Penelope Noteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01965692242969563279noreply@blogger.com