Miscellany 18 Mar 2007 02:59 pm
Admitting my hangup.
I have no idea why this is such a snag for my mind, but it’s there and all the country-life romantacizing I’d like to do can’t seem to wash it away.
We know of a 50-something man, a 30-ish man, an man in his early 20’s, and a 13 year old girl all educated in this county’s school system. Two of these are considered by their peers to be exceptionally bright and “educated”. Not a single one of them has ever heard of the word “Thesaurus”, let alone used one. (My deep apologies to anyone who is reading this and wondering for themselves what one is. Here’s a wiki).
When did I consider knowledge of what a thesaurus was and how one is used to be a prequisite of a good education? I have no idea. I do know that it’s a pretty basic tool for writing. My young kids know what one is and they found out through a very organic process: we use one from time to time around here. I myself learned in school and I’m pretty sure it was in early jr. high. I think anyone who graduates from 12 years of education ought to be able to speak, read, and write in a way that equips them for life out in the world, wherever that may be. We’ve seen young guys with high school diplomas struggle to pronouce, nevermind put together, a resume. They’d have no chance writing an essay in a college level course; maybe not even a letter to the editor of their local paper. Whether these kids want to stay close to home or get a degree that empowers them to live elsewhere, they don’t seem to be getting some pretty basic level instruction to do so.
One guy asked if a thesaurus was a kind of dinosaur. Maybe it is.
on 18 Mar 2007 at 3:46 pm 1.martha jane said …
I guess this is a time to go more public (this is more public than my blog) about the MILLION WORD CROSSWORD DICTIONARY, Stanley Newman and Daniel Stark, Harper Collins, 2004. A thesaurus with a zing. It is one of my favorite things! It would be helpful for young people learning to write, but I find it is also great for jogging a more elderly, slightly rickety memory–and perhaps just as often performing some remedial work for someone who has chosen to linger in the backwater (backwoods, sticks, hinterland, outback, wilds) when it comes to popular culture. Not to say I am getting smart and sophisticated now, just that I have found a great secret trove. It is almost too much fun for me, but I’m getting used to it.
on 20 Mar 2007 at 12:06 pm 2.Mimi said …
My 10 year old asked for a thesarus yesterday, and I thought of you.
on 20 Mar 2007 at 3:32 pm 3.Becky said …
Lol! Great ending there. I enjoyed this, Tia. I’m catching up and so read it after the _eyboard problem. So sorry about K. Hope he gets well.