Language Arts

A language art, a pretty phase, is the latest attempt to screw around with English. You remember English, those dry grammar rules, incoherent spelling tricks, term papers, compositions, sentence diagrams and such. Somewhere between valley girls and the “like” generation, English became something to ignore. Kids today are no longer taught these arcane rules, or pronunciation, penmanship and proper word usage.

English was once considered the hardest language to learn, but no more. If you don’t know the rules, you have two choices today. The first choice is to speak louder. Louder works because it usually involves shouting, name-calling, and general intimidation. Who would want to correct someone who is shouting at you, “Hey muter f…er” “Eh, just a minute young lady, the correct pronunciation is mother.”

The second choice is to make it up as you go. This works because your peers will generally consider you a trendsetter or someone in the know of the latest catch phases. Your elders will ignore you as they just assume you are engaging in the latest teen trend. The “Like” generation has taken this to a new art form. “I was like really mad so I like said to him he never called me like he said he would.”

It amazes me that some of the best speakers of English today are from a foreign land. This is simply because they practice the language, not because they are intrinsically better. Look at a typical homework assignment from today’s public schools.

A spelling assignment one day, a fill in the blank story the next. A review of a book that should never have seen a publisher and than throw in a good dash of self-esteem. This means, do not offend anyone who cannot read or write properly. Do not criticize someone who speaks with the wrong pronunciation or make fun of gutter language.

We are raising a nation of illiterate children, who will become illiterate adults. We have no expectations of them, we do not challenge them, and we do not hurt their feelings. You know where this all leads if you are a long time reader of my posts. It leads to stupid voters, people who believe the latest news sound bite, it leads to liberalism.

In order to take back this nation, we first have a difficult job of educating people.