...irritated sarcasm to follow...
I just saw a blurb about the new SAT on NPR's website.
One quote in particular:
they will have to write an essay...The new focus on writing is causing anxiety, particularly among low income, minority and immigrant students in schools that haven't taught them how to write.
Oh my gosh! Requiring college students to have writing skills? What's next, being able to read?
Yes, I work at a university and I'm a graduate student, but since when is it a bad thing to require writing skills of COLLEGE students? Further, how is it that economic disadvantage requires that the basic academic requirements be lowered? Helping with money? Absolutely! Lowering the academic requirements for a four-year college? No! Frankly, it's pitiful how many students get into a good four-year and must take remedial English. Entrance exams (like SAT) should filter out those who are not ready.
Primary, middle, and secondary schools should be teaching people how to write. Solve the problem there. For those not ready to enter four year, junior college is perfect. Go there and get the skills your HS cheated you out of, the transfer to a four-year. And, frankly, if you're that afraid of writing, maybe consider trade school. It's just not true that everyone needs to go to college.
Yeah, I realize there are other issues, but lowering the standards is not the solution. Raising ability is the solution. Let's concentrate our efforts there. How about this: have writing classes at local churches. Hmmm.
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