New waves of immigrants since the mid 20th century are a different breed from our grandparents who were thrilled with a second chance at life and freedom. And their native languages and cultures were difficult to unlearn. Last time I was in a highschool lunchroom it sounded like the Tower of Babel split into ethnic squares. And yesterday, at the Post Office, a woman carried on a very loud phone conversation in a language I didn't recognize- maybe central European. Same thing happens at the supermarket. Please pray for me- I am so tempted to shout "Learn English!!!".
On Apr 10, 12:48�pm, dick thompson <[email protected]> wrote: > � /HEADLINES:/ > Terror plot swoop at fresh property > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674757-details/Terro...>..... > � Funeral > Mass for earthquake victims > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674764-details/Funer...>..... > � Ship's > captain bids to flee pirates > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674671-details/Ship%...>..... > � Man > killed in pie factory explosion > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674911-details/Man+k...>..... > � Couple > killed in light plane crash > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674891-details/Coupl...>..... > � Teachers > will vote on tests boycott > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674691-details/Teach...>..... > � Three > dead as car ploughs into wall > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674758-details/Three...>..... > � Father > in new appeal over Claudia > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674756-details/Fathe...>..... > � Baby > P report reveals police delays > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674711-details/Baby+...>..... > � Fears > grow for hunger strike pair > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674652-details/Fears...>..... > � > > Terror plot swoop at fresh property > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674757-details/Terro...>..... > � Funeral > Mass for earthquake victims > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674764-details/Funer...>..... > � Ship's > captain bids to flee pirates > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674671-details/Ship%...>..... > � Man > killed in pie factory explosion > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674911-details/Man+k...>..... > � Couple > killed in light plane crash > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674891-details/Coupl...>..... > � Teachers > will vote on tests boycott > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674691-details/Teach...>..... > � Three > dead as car ploughs into wall > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674758-details/Three...>..... > � Father > in new appeal over Claudia > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674756-details/Fathe...>..... > � Baby > P report reveals police delays > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674711-details/Baby+...>..... > � Fears > grow for hunger strike pair > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674652-details/Fears...>..... > � � > > � � Literacy lessons have been fatal for English, says teachers' leader > > *Tim Ross, Education Correspondent* > 09.04.09 > > THE drive to improve literacy in schools has killed the subject of > English and left a generation of children unable to speak properly, a > teachers' leader warned today. > > Pupils no longer read whole books or write in class for pleasure, but > instead analyse "extracts" for tests, according to Mary Bousted, the > general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-home/related-42454-articles-re...>. > She said children had lost the chance to learn how to talk and listen to > others under the Government's literacy strategy. > > There is growing concern among authors over the erosion of literature > studies and employers have complained about school-leavers' weak > communication skills. > > Pupils are no longer required to study whole Shakespeare > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-home/related-63-articles-revie...> > plays in detail but can rely on revising sections from extracted scenes. > Inspectors have warned that poetry is a dying subject in too many > schools, while Michael Rosen, the Children's Laureate, has criticised > the Government for failing to promote reading for fun. > > Speaking at ATL's annual conference in Liverpool > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-home/related-2586-articles-rev...>, > Dr Bousted, a former English teacher, criticised the Government's > literacy strategy, begun while David Blunkett > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-home/related-6287-articles-rev...> > was education secretary, for failing to include verbal communication skills. > > "My subject, English, is no more. It has been replaced by a newcomer - > literacy," she said. "Literacy as a subject is based on the naming of > parts. Children rarely read whole books. They read parts of books - > extracts. These extracts are mined for adjectives and adverbs, and > active verbs and nouns. > > "Where has the concept of pleasure gone? Where has the personal response > to a book or a poem disappeared to? Where is the experience of children > choosing what it is they want to write about?" > > Despite opposition from teachers' unions, ministers have overhauled the > teaching of reading in primary schools, bringing in the use of > "phonics", in which children learn to blend individual letter sounds to > form whole words. > > Link to: Digg > <http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=%3Cstr:encodeUrl%3Ehttp://www.this...> > Reddit > <http://reddit.com/submit?url=%3Cstr:encodeUrl%3Ehttp://www.thisislond...>Delicious > <http://del.icio.us/post?url=%3Cstr:encodeUrl%3Ehttp://www.thisislondo...> > Facebook > <http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=%3Cstr:encodeUrl%3Ehttp://www.th...> > > � Reader views (22) > > �*Add your view* > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674154-details/Liter...> > | *Show all* > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674154-details/Liter...> > > Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674154-details/Liter...> > to read all views that readers have sent in. > > I was at school during the forties & fifties and I learnt to read when I > was five years old & in a very serious & disciplined manner. I don't > recall having much in the way of teaching before starting school either. > So - why is it that this subject was considered so important & > absolutely essential in the olden days but is treated so casually now?! > > *- Dawn Bonham, Northampton* > > Yes indeed. Education policy, modern teaching methods and dumbing down > of exams are all downsizing our language. But also, how do you encourage > a child to read for pleasure when he has his > X-Box, his PC and his mobile phone to occupy his time? Yet the teenagers > all say " I have nothing to do in the evenings. " > > Nao > > *- Naomi Sajeri, Manchester* > > Years ago I went to school, in a building bomb torn shred and shattered, > Reading and writing was all very good; but it was the free school milk > that mattered. > > Teachers were often thin on the ground, but books in libraries were > always around, > Reading made me constantly think, and my writing was always done in ink. > > I left my dilapidated school one day, without any qualifications of merit, > This was just the start of my education; which I sought out like a ferret. > > I carried on reading and learning all I could, from those that had the > knowledge, > This is the best a working class kid could do, without ever going to > college. > > I am old today and often look back at the happy life I have had, > I learned very young to help myself, and for that I am more than glad. > > I could have blamed everyone else around, for failing to reach my peek. > Yet as old as I am every day I learn, knowledge is there for all to seek. > > Teachers and parents can only go so far, after that it is up to you, > To my children I give this advice I have learned; always remain true to you. > > *- Mickyinlondon, london* > > � � � Add your comment > > *Show all* > <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23674154-details/Liter...> > > Name: --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. 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