Hushing grammar grunts
Students' writing ability follows cultural decline; college refuses remedial courses, avoids 'bonehead'?English instruction
Joy Pavelski
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: News
A stack of unclaimed blue books and term papers from last semester's English 360 class has grown into English Department Chairman Michael Jordan's bookshelf. More than a dozen students from that class never reclaimed material they wrote for that class, never read Jordan's comments written in red, comfortable script.
Perhaps it would have been too painful.
"In a class of 18, I may have two or three students making unsatisfactory grades solely because of grammar," Jordan said. "I don't think they were taught or given enough feedback in high school. It's common for students who get all A's in high school to come here and get C's."
High schools just aren't teaching kids to write any more, complain college professors, writing tutors and literacy experts across the United States. Administrators said that, while Hillsdale College students are better writers than average, they could improve.
"I think the majority of kids graduating from high school are not anywhere near the level that people were 30 or 40 years ago in terms of literacy, spelling, and grammar," said Jim Wallace, president of the Society for the Preservation of English Language and Literature, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching proper English. "Most kids who go to college need remedial work."
As part of Hillsdale College's accreditation requirements, the provost's office each year completes a general education assessment on student writing skills. Professors, the provosts and department chairs read freshman writing samples and every Center for Constructive Alternatives paper submitted by juniors to evaluate writing across the college.
Since 2000, Whalen said, Hillsdale faculty have made a conscious effort to emphasize solid writing in the classroom after department meetings revealed it was needed.
"Our students are overwhelmingly writing at a college level, but not with stunning excellence," Associate Provost David Whalen said.
Eventually, Jordan said, the English department will appoint a chairman of grammar to oversee grammar instruction on campus. When the donor sponsoring the position dies, money for the chair will be released to the college.
Perhaps it would have been too painful.
"In a class of 18, I may have two or three students making unsatisfactory grades solely because of grammar," Jordan said. "I don't think they were taught or given enough feedback in high school. It's common for students who get all A's in high school to come here and get C's."
High schools just aren't teaching kids to write any more, complain college professors, writing tutors and literacy experts across the United States. Administrators said that, while Hillsdale College students are better writers than average, they could improve.
"I think the majority of kids graduating from high school are not anywhere near the level that people were 30 or 40 years ago in terms of literacy, spelling, and grammar," said Jim Wallace, president of the Society for the Preservation of English Language and Literature, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching proper English. "Most kids who go to college need remedial work."
As part of Hillsdale College's accreditation requirements, the provost's office each year completes a general education assessment on student writing skills. Professors, the provosts and department chairs read freshman writing samples and every Center for Constructive Alternatives paper submitted by juniors to evaluate writing across the college.
Since 2000, Whalen said, Hillsdale faculty have made a conscious effort to emphasize solid writing in the classroom after department meetings revealed it was needed.
"Our students are overwhelmingly writing at a college level, but not with stunning excellence," Associate Provost David Whalen said.
Eventually, Jordan said, the English department will appoint a chairman of grammar to oversee grammar instruction on campus. When the donor sponsoring the position dies, money for the chair will be released to the college.
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