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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]FCPS do not teach grammar, sentence structure either.  So it is pretty normal in public schools.  It is a shame too because so many young people cannot write.  Let's be honest if you cannot write your marketability is in the toilet.[/quote]

Met plenty of developers and engineers  who can't write at all.  This obsession with writing is misplaced and just leads to kids choosing ridiculous humanities majors in college.  [/quote]
DP.. both spouse and I are in tech, non humanity degree - knowing how to write a coherent sentence is important for most jobs.  I can't tell you how many times I have had to go back/forth with someone who could not write a coherent sentence.

Having stated that, however, focusing on spelling is pointless now. Grammar, yes, but not spelling. IMO, the thing that most people seem to struggle with is organizing their thoughts and  having critical thinking skills.

People don't need to know the definition of an adverb (ie, they don't need to know how to diagram a sentence), but they should know how it is used.  IMO, reading complex text and expository writing helps with grammar.[/quote]

Do you think understanding how a computer works is useful background for a programmer?  I think so, and I think knowing something about spelling and grammar are pretty important for anyone who writes (which means pretty much everyone).[/quote]

False analogy.  You should ask whether understanding how a computer works is useful background for an English major.  It is not.  And the opposite is true.

No one interviewing for a STEM job is asking my kid to provide a writing sample.  As long as they have a functioning literacy, I'd rather they focus on the STEM subjects that matter.  Don't want them serving coffee their entire lives.[/quote]
+1 exactly. This is the problem with people who are hung up on diagramming sentences... they lack critical thinking skills.  [/quote]

NP.  What do people have against grammar?  I don’t understand it.  I’m continuously surprised at what adults are willing to throw away. Yesterday, I read a mom say schools shouldn’t teach history![/quote]
If you re-read my post, I stated that grammar was  important, but sentence diagramming and knowing what a past participle vs an adverb is by definition is not that important. It's important that the writing is coherent, but a person doesn't need to know how to diagram a sentence to write a coherent paragraph.

As far as spelling is concerned, again, that is only important to a point. Even my MS kids do all their writing on their computer, but DC has had spelling tests in ES.  But at this point, it's more important for MS/HS kids to write a coherent essay using critical thinking skills than focusing on their spelling.

I did not say we should not teach history or English. The question is  - what content should be taught in history or English? In the 21st century, we don't need sentence diagramming or focusing on spelling in the later grades.

Again, lacking critical thinking skills.[/quote]

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