Community Chat

[LooPY]

Of all the concerns Shorty mentioned, the one most disturbing to me is that handwriting is no longer taught in many schools. I would urge anyone who considers cursive writing a dead art, to read the article in the NY Times (6/3/14) entitled 'What's Lost as Handwriting Fades'. New evidence suggests that the links between handwriting and broader educational development run deep. More recently, research and studies indicate that children who learn to write by hand better generate ideas and retain information. Apparently it's not just what we write that matters, but how. The act of writing stimulates areas of the brain that are not activated by typing. Not only do we learn letters better when we commit them to memory through writing, memory and learning ability in general may benefit. It has even been suggested by one researcher that cursive writing may train self-control in a way other modes of writing do not. (It is a discipline, after all.) Most interesting is, although the jury is still out, even skeptics acknowledge that this new data is thought-provoking. Kudos to Shorty's daughter for teaching her granddaughter cursive writing when the school no longer saw fit to do so!

[bells4me]

Where I worked Chrome books were used in high school beginning in 2007. Students could chew gum and have water bottles in the classroom. Several students were arrested for being drunk because they chose to fill them with vodka. One even passed out in class. Cursive writing hasn't been taught in years or typing. No texting though. My grandson does just about all his math on his phone this year, so times are still changing since I retired. Glad my kids are raised.

[Lila Belle]

On 8/25/2014 brewhaha said:

When I wrote in cursive, I was sent home and my mom washed my hand with soap.

Too funny !

[sabrescutie]

On 8/25/2014 hckynut said:

On 8/25/2014 Shorty2U said:

I now have 2 granddaughters in high school and 1 in grade school. Times sure are changing.

The 2 high school grandkids were given electronic notebooks by the school (no more regular books). They can bring them back and forth from home to school and vice versa. (Middle school kids get them too but cannot bring them back and forth.)

Also they can chew gum, wear flip flops (my grandkids don't wear them to school though), they can have bottled water @ their desks, and lastly they can text in school in study hall (or when the teacher isn't teaching/when their work is finished).

I told them the following and they just looked at me and said you're kidding? lol. When I was in school I got sent home for wearing a USA t-shirt. In fact we couldn't wear pants until I was in 7th grade. (all through grade school it was skirts and dresses) One time I got caught with gum and the teacher made me wear the gum on my nose all through class. lol. We certainly couldn't have water at our desk, chew gum, and of course there were no cell phones.

Well none of these new school issues above bother me much except for with my youngest granddaughter. Cursive writing is no longer taught. I think that is ridiculous. Everyone has to sign their name and write at some point no matter how many electronics there are! (So my daughter taught her cursive at home long ago because she felt she needed to know how to write cursive. like the other 2).

aka-taxpayers

Studies have shown that those that wear uniform dress are generally better behaved.

Do you think these looser standards of dress and other more liberal policies by the schools have helped or hurt the graduation rate?

My school wears uniforms. Worst behaviors ever in 14 years teaching.

[sabrescutie]

Electronic notebooks? I'm lucky if my students show up with something to write with...

[feline groovy]

On 8/25/2014 brewhaha said:

When I wrote in cursive, I was sent home and my mom washed my hand with soap.

[Shorty2U]

Thanks for the input and replies. And a big thank you to those who are and have been teachers!

And I agree on cursive writing.

Anyway, according to my grankids school they are saving a bundle on books and paper by using these electronic notebooks. Yeah good, and hopefully they will put the savings to good use.

I forgot to add, my grandkids go to a suburban middle to upper class public school.

I can tell you that the city school nearby has the students wear uniforms (due to having parents save money and not have to keep up with trends in clothing), and it did not curve behavior problems. That city school is a mess with problems!