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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It’s always amusing when people post nostalgia for they way they were taught, as if those archaic methods were superior.[/quote]

This.

I don't know what the PP was talking about with "no structured writing/composition" but we def still have that in MCPS. I also don't understand what "logic" is in the context mentioned.

When I was a kid (also in MCPS), we were at least [i]more likely[/i] than now to be taught:

-Cursive
-More focus on perfecting handwriting in general-- which made sense at a time most people didn't have a home computer!
-Spelling
-Sentence diagramming (but I don't remember getting a ton of this-- maybe a bit in 4th and a bit in 7th?)
-Typing, including as an elective class in Jr. High/HS
-Home economics and woodworking were at least offered more frequently as electives in Jr. High/HS
-Lots of people my age (early 40s) still had Driver's Ed classes in school as an option, though I'm not sure my HS had it by the 90s
-Longer recess

When my parents were kids/teens (PG County public schools), they were more likely to have been taught:

-Geography as a discrete course with just names/places-- and history as a more name/date drilling thing
-Even more home ec/woodworking/etc. type courses
-I feel like they had "Civics" as a discrete course. I don't think we've necessarily lost that, just integrated it more.
-Same maybe for "Speech/Debate?"
-Not to use their left hands if they were left-handed!
-More PE, like daily PE in ES

Probably some other things I'm forgetting.

OTOH, my kid gets things like...

-A lot more computer exposure, almost no need for a specific typing class (this has pros and cons, but just saying)
-More diverse reading materials
-Many more foreign language options
-More opportunities for collaborative projects (I had a lot, but I was always in magnet/"GT" programs-- my husband and parents rarely did)
-More critical thinking activities (see above)

I think it's better on the whole. Would like it if my kid had longer recess, more PE, and more exposure to "industrial/domestic arts." Otherwise, I think these have been fine tradeoffs. [/quote]

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