Anonymous wrote:Why is it important to you that your children learn how to memorize?

Because memorizing things like times tables and written work helps to develop neural pathways. Something the supports learning. Education should not be limited to memorization and memorization does not take away from developing critical thinking skills.

I suspect most kids would benefit from a certain degree of memorization given the attention span of most kids today.

Anonymous wrote:One of my best English teachers had us do this with the Jabberwocky. I still remember snippets of it. It made the words sound like an actual thing rather than nonsense on paper.

And although I hated the public speaking part it was good practice.

Totally in favor of including this in English class. (Pp saying to do foreign language or shop instead is missing the point that this would just be a slice of English class not a whole class).

Parents can easily work with their kids to do this. Doing it in school will take away from other standards.

Anonymous wrote:Dumb idea and even dumber op-Ed.

We weren’t asking the opinions of the illiterate.

Anonymous wrote:I think Sarah Hackbeee from Arkansas will be President in 2029, If Trump picks her she could VP. I keep talking about how smart she is. She keeps helping families

-1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Man oh Man! What a strange thing to care this much about. Ok Ok.. you did it in the 70's - great. I would rather my kids learn a foreign language or a programming language or some life skill (mechanics, shop, cooking). Something truly useful in life. Next you are gong to want them to have mandatory typing.

The typing class I took in 7th grade was one of the most practical classes I took in school. As was the speech class I took in 8th grade.

Nowadays, kids use laptops but don't learn how to touch type. So strange.

+1
Bring back actual typing instruction!!!

YES - my kids have started doing dance mat typing. It's their goal to learn how to type properly over the summer.

One of my best English teachers had us do this with the Jabberwocky. I still remember snippets of it. It made the words sound like an actual thing rather than nonsense on paper.

And although I hated the public speaking part it was good practice.

Totally in favor of including this in English class. (Pp saying to do foreign language or shop instead is missing the point that this would just be a slice of English class not a whole class).

Why is it important to you that your children learn how to memorize?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Man oh Man! What a strange thing to care this much about. Ok Ok.. you did it in the 70's - great. I would rather my kids learn a foreign language or a programming language or some life skill (mechanics, shop, cooking). Something truly useful in life. Next you are gong to want them to have mandatory typing.

The typing class I took in 7th grade was one of the most practical classes I took in school. As was the speech class I took in 8th grade.

Nowadays, kids use laptops but don't learn how to touch type. So strange.

+1
Bring back actual typing instruction!!!

I had a fifth grade teacher who required us to learn a poem a week. I don't recall them all, but i remember parts of them clearly. I think it helped me appreciate literature (these were not child's poems) and helped me memorize material in later studies. It also was an exercise to stand up and repeat it.
Later, I think a history teacher required the Gettysburg address. A lit teacher had us memorize part of Canterbury Tales. I think it is quite helpful to have to do this. The most difficult memorization, however, was the chemistry teacher who had us memorize the Periodic Table.

Honestly, those were some of the best teachers I had. And, memorizing does not prevent you from learning to think critically. It is just another learning tool.

Anonymous wrote:Man oh Man! What a strange thing to care this much about. Ok Ok.. you did it in the 70's - great. I would rather my kids learn a foreign language or a programming language or some life skill (mechanics, shop, cooking). Something truly useful in life. Next you are gong to want them to have mandatory typing.

No greater skill in the electronic age than typing. It was optional for me, but most useful high school course for me.

Anonymous wrote:Man oh Man! What a strange thing to care this much about. Ok Ok.. you did it in the 70's - great. I would rather my kids learn a foreign language or a programming language or some life skill (mechanics, shop, cooking). Something truly useful in life. Next you are gong to want them to have mandatory typing.

The typing class I took in 7th grade was one of the most practical classes I took in school. As was the speech class I took in 8th grade.

Nowadays, kids use laptops but don't learn how to touch type. So strange.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Memorizing classic words doesn’t mean they understand them. I’d rather my child understand the purpose and meaning without being able to recite word for word.

Bingo!!! Memorizing is not learning! Applying knowledge show mastery in learning.

Exactly. Think about the Pledge of Allegiance. Hoe many students can recite it? Of those, how many know what it means?

Anonymous wrote:I guess I know what your kids will be doing this summer. Any thoughts on which works you will have them memorize?

The Bible (but not the parts that contradict my conservative worldview), Birth of a Nation and selected articles from The Daily Stormer.

I guess I know what your kids will be doing this summer. Any thoughts on which works you will have them memorize?

Here’s a worksheet about stuff someone said.

Don’t worry; you won’t be held accountable for any of this information or whether you read it.

If you read the next worksheet though, I’ll give you credit for reading this one.