ONE LESS "R"

[Jeff Thorpe]

Heard a radio interview this week with an American educator who advised their Cirriculum no longer had time to teach kids to write. As I've said in the following poem, "What is this world comin' to".

One Less "R"

When I was but a pup at school the three Rs led the way,
'readin', 'ritin', 'rithmatic, of course is what I mean.
Armed with these three basics, you'd not be led astray
and in the fight 'gainst ignorance, they proved a safe vaccine.

Now I hear (you guessed it) from where else but USA,
'ritin' is no longer on the scene.
Keyboard skill apparently, is now the state of play,
ability to 'rite's no more routine.

What is this world comin' to, I wonder in dismay,
surely common sense should intervene.
Otherwise, I fear that there'll be mass disarray
with future generations more reliant on machine.

Not content with bastardisin' language as they may
the Yanks seek now to make cursive obscene.
Initiatives like this, I feel are founded deep in clay,
long term consequences above all unforeseen.

A grumpy old cynic's view, I guess that some will say,
the world has changed but, maybe he's not seen.
I'm stickin' to my values though and will do every day
for some things are just not designed to wean.

Jeff Thorpe 15 July 2011

[Dave Smith]

Jeff I’ve got to tell ya it’s a skill that needs to be taken seriously, the habit of abbreviated mobile texting is bad enough. I have to be honest though my handwriting has improved out of sight since we got our putta.

TTFN

[Bob Pacey]

I'm with you Dave.

My first job interview at 16 had a note on the appraisal Handwriting legible and it has not changed if anything it's gotten worse.

Left handers were given a clip around the ears and told to change hands in those days.

Bob

[Neville Briggs]

It is a pity Jeff. Hand writing is a sort of art or poetry that is still retained in Arabic and Chinese writing for example.

[Jeff Thorpe]

G'day Dave, Bob & Neville

While I admit to using a word processor, whenever I'm on a trip I hand write a diary so I can remember everywhere I've been. First day or so, the writing's a bit rusty but, by the finish everything runs fluently.

Bob, I was a "mollyduker" when I started school but, changed to writing right handed voluntarily when saw what the other kids were doing. Still do many other things left handed though.

Cheers, Jeff

[Bob Pacey]

Not even gonna go there Jeff. I've tried to play the guitar right handed but no good.

Play two handed sports right handed and one handed sports left handed. ????


Bob