I was disappointed after reading that America's youth doesn't have mad writing skills. So the College Board is trying to remedy that by creating new SAT exams with a writing portion. I gs u cn blm yrz of txt msgx...sux0rs.
Now I read that not only are kids bad at writing, but their parents probably are just as bad, or forget parents, how about most adults?
No Hemingways here: Employers say workers need help to improve writing ability
By MADLEN READ
Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK (AP) It's not just students who need to brush up on their writing.
A majority of U.S. employers say about one-third of workers do not meet the writing requirements of their positions, according to a survey by the College Board's National Commission on Writing.
``Businesses are really crying out they need to have people who write better,'' said College Board President Gaston Caperton.
While writing has always held a spot in American education as one of the three Rs, many say writing clearly and accurately is more important than ever and not all workers are up to the task.
In a fast-paced workplace, precision and brevity are essential. For e-mails, reports and presentations, the commission found that accuracy, clarity, spelling, punctuation, grammar and conciseness ranked among the most sought-after skills.
``There's no way to say that writing has gotten worse,'' said Susan Traiman, director of the education initiative for the Business Roundtable. Rather, ``the demand has gotten greater.''
(...)
A majority of survey respondents said about two-thirds of employees both current workers and new hires meet writing requirements. However, about one-third of respondents said one-third or fewer of current and new employees met those requirements. While lackluster writing skills do not necessarily impede success in all realms, more than half of the companies surveyed reported that they assess writing in hiring and promoting salaried employees.
The solution?
The College Board, which administers the SAT, PSAT and Advanced Placement tests, says the responsibility lies with grade schools and universities but training represents another potential solution.
``You're never too old to learn,'' said Bob Kerrey, co-chair of the writing commission and president of the New School University in New York City. ``It's a skill that is acquirable.''
I have always thought writing to be an essential skill in life. I have had a passion for it since my early days of writing doctor's notes to excuse me from gym class, (er, I meant, watching my mom write them), writing stories in high school English to break up the monotony and crack up my friends, and to the present time as I try to make a living out of the written word. I love to write, I can't imagine not wanting to or not being able to do it. It's as vital as breathing or eating, it is communication, and for a society to survive, to get along, we need to communicate.
CJ at 9/15/2004
Comments:
That's why I think students should all be given blogs in school. We all get sloppy when we instant message, but most of us write a little better on our blogs.
- Oso
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