4 ms·

Part of the high GPAs is grade inflation. Nobody wants to be the one who says "No." Illiterate students are passed on to universities and into the workplace, wh

Part of the high GPAs is grade inflation. Nobody wants to be the one who says "No." Illiterate students are passed on to universities and into the workplace, where reality suddenly intrudes.

andrewflnr 15y ago
I think I was in third grade when we were paired up with older kids, fifth or sixth grade, who were supposed to "help" us with our reading skills. It seemed like the guy I was paired with could barely read out loud. I remember wondering how he could possibly have made it that far. I've seen similar phenomena since. I've seen native English speakers around my age struggle with only moderately advanced vocabulary, including in college classes. It worries me a lot. Just in case you wanted some anecdotal evidence to go with your claim.
- nazgulnarsil 15y ago
  I had a similar experience. But at college reading a play. Very depressing.
  - jff 15y ago
    Nothing more depressing than an in-class reading of "Romeo and Juliet" during my freshman year of H.S. The obvious illiteracy of most of these students floored me; nearly everyone was sounding-out and guessing at any words over 2 syllables. "Apothecary"? Dream on. I think it took us something like a week to read through that play, which could be performed in an hour or two.
    - Figs 15y ago
      Outside of fiction, how many of them have even heard of an apothecary? How many of them would be tripped up if it had said something more familiar, like 'pharmacist', instead?
- giardini 15y ago
  That's a sad story, indeed, as are the other ones on this thread. My Dad was educated in a country school and the older kids were expected to help the younger ones learn. According to him it worked very well. But in your case it seems you were teaching the _older_ kids. I guess the bad news is "We're fucked." OTOH the good news is that I'll likely have a job until I don't want one anymore!8-)) Anybody seen the film "Idiocracy"? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/

Part of the high GPAs is grade inflation. Nobody wants to be the one who says "No." Illiterate students are passed on to universities and into the workplace, where reality suddenly intrudes.

andrewflnr 15y ago

I think I was in third grade when we were paired up with older kids, fifth or sixth grade, who were supposed to "help" us with our reading skills. It seemed like the guy I was paired with could barely read out loud. I remember wondering how he could possibly have made it that far. I've seen similar phenomena since. I've seen native English speakers around my age struggle with only moderately advanced vocabulary, including in college classes. It worries me a lot. Just in case you wanted some anecdotal evidence to go with your claim.

nazgulnarsil 15y ago
I had a similar experience. But at college reading a play. Very depressing.
- jff 15y ago
  Nothing more depressing than an in-class reading of "Romeo and Juliet" during my freshman year of H.S. The obvious illiteracy of most of these students floored me; nearly everyone was sounding-out and guessing at any words over 2 syllables. "Apothecary"? Dream on. I think it took us something like a week to read through that play, which could be performed in an hour or two.
  - Figs 15y ago
    Outside of fiction, how many of them have even heard of an apothecary? How many of them would be tripped up if it had said something more familiar, like 'pharmacist', instead?
giardini 15y ago
That's a sad story, indeed, as are the other ones on this thread. My Dad was educated in a country school and the older kids were expected to help the younger ones learn. According to him it worked very well. But in your case it seems you were teaching the _older_ kids. I guess the bad news is "We're fucked." OTOH the good news is that I'll likely have a job until I don't want one anymore!8-)) Anybody seen the film "Idiocracy"? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/