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From: horne-scott@cs.yale.edu (Scott Horne)
Newsgroups: comp.edu,sci.edu,misc.education
Subject: Re: Against educational fads
Message-ID: <27743@cs.yale.edu>
Date: 12 Dec 90 01:01:11 GMT
References: <1990Dec5.005509.11049@massey.ac.nz> <15447@cs.utexas.edu> <39897@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
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In article <39897@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> thom@dewey.soe.berkeley.edu.UUCP (Thom Gillespie) writes:
<I felt that Arnold Chamove's posting was very reasonable and as he stated, his
<point of view. I can't understand why Russell came back and seemed to attempt
<to prove that his argument, and only his argument is the correct argument.

Because it *is*.

<Previously Russell stated:
<< One of the most pernicious influences on our primary and
<< secondary schools are the teachers who do not know what is
<< important and lasting in education, and what is a passing fad.
<
<For me, the more 'pernicious influence' is a teacher who 'knows' what is
<important and attempt to enforce it.

Even the most simple-minded educrat will probably agree that such skills as
reading and writing are essential.  Typing is also very important, and I
certainly encourage people to learn to type, but it's not fundamental to life
in today's society.  If you think that typing is more important than writing,
well, I suppose we never shall share pedagogical ideas.

<Lighten up Russ, the worlds has lots of room for opinion.

Opinion?  Indeed, there are those who are of the opinion that typing and
word-processing skills are more important than writing skills.  Russell and
I won't agree with these people on much.  Russell's article stated the
(correct) opinion that writing skills are more important to most than typing
skills.

The world can use only so many secretaries but needs plenty of good writers.

					--Scott

-- 
Scott Horne                               ...!{harvard,cmcl2,decvax}!yale!horne
horne@cs.Yale.edu      SnailMail:  Box 7196 Yale Station, New Haven, CT   06520
203 436-1817                    Residence:  Rm 1817 Silliman College, Yale Univ
Uneasy lies the head that wears the _gao1 mao4zi_.