... The headlines touted the program's definition of nouns as "stuff" and verbs as "what stuff does." ...
Why the mirth ? I just wonder,
Larry, how many of the headline-makers could come up with a first approximation to a definition of «noun» and «verb» more concise and easier to understand for elementary school children than the two proposed above. I can't, but then
my mental deficiency is notorious....
Henri
For once we agree on something
Just kidding, you know . . .
The trouble is that from what I understand of the program, it's geared towards
all middle-school students (grades 6, 7, and 8 ) , who should already know this stuff (
word intended), and not towards the beginning readers in the early elementary years. Other parts of the program use "teen magazines" as reading material. One part of me says, "Hey, whatever gets them started reading instead of running drugs is OK with me." The other part says, "How did we come to this?"
I haven't looked into the details of the program since it doesn't directly affect me; I'm only reporting what I've heard on radio newscasts while commuting to and from work.
I'm the product of Catholic parochial elementary, private Catholic high school, and private Catholic college education; my wife is the product of public schools and university. Both of my daughters went to public schools in a country that borders Baltimore City. One received a full tuition scholarship to a local state university, graduating
magna cum laude with a degree in Theater Arts and a Minor in Spansh, with membership in the Theater and Spanish Honors Societies. The younger is still in college, and received a grant and some financial aid to a small out-of-state college. She eventually transferred back to the same university as her sister so she could pursue a degree in Electronic Media and Film, which was not offered at her original school. She's doing fine there. This switch in major, combined with a possible second major, puts her on the "five year plan," do the detriment of my finances.
Why the difference in outcomes between the two school systems? I won't even start to venture an opinion. Mind you, the City does have magnet schools, or at least one that is technical (i. e., science/enginerring oriented) in nature. But how does one explain the widespread need for such an obviously remedial program? There is no mirth involved in that answer. The Mayor may be running for Governor next election; I may have to hold my nose and vote Republican again in that particular contest (instead of holding my nose and voting Democratic as usual).