To Improve Education, Bring Back the Third ‘R’

             When I was a kid, students went to school to learn the ‘three R’s – reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic.’

But now reading and math are the dominant subjects for End of Grade tests in our nation’s public schools, so the harder-to-score writing is often neglected until tenth grade.  An unintended consequence of the No Child Left Behind act may be large numbers of students entering college and the job market with weak writing abilities.

Writing is like reading and math:  these important skills must be built over years; they cannot be learned well in a semester course.  Children often scribble ‘words’ before they learn to read.  Handwriting, spelling, and basic grammar exercises prepare elementary students to write paragraphs.  In middle and high school, writing assignments facilitate adolescents’ natural progression toward logical and organized adult thinking.  American teens learn how to exercise their right to free speech using persuasive essays and business letters.  Term papers give writers in-depth, permanent understanding of reading material. Writing should be a key component of every school’s curriculum.

            Many state and national education leaders apparently agree.  In June, the NC Board of Education adopted “Common Core State Standards” which define “clear and consistent goals for learning, to prepare children for success in college and work.”  These nationally-recognized objectives, scheduled to go into effect in August, 2012, emphasize a well-rounded education.   You can explore www.corestandards.org for easy-to-understand definitions of what children should learn in every grade and subject, including writing. 

I hope the long-overdue revision of the NCLB act helps to implement these standards without the unhealthy testing obsession created by previous legislation.

A Writing Renaissance in our public schools would boost learning and help expand curriculum to meet the new standards.  Parents and administrators could focus a tad less on test scores and encourage teachers to give more writing assignments.  Schools and community groups can promote student writing by sponsoring old fashioned essay contests.  Student newspapers and literary journals are easy to publish using computers. 

It would not be difficult to revitalize the third ‘R.’  We need to make it a priority.