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Jul. 8th, 2011 09:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
midnightsjaneAs in reading, writing and 'rithmetic..the basics of schooling as I know it. I was somewhat taken aback to read that the Indiana public schools will not be teaching students to write in cursive anymore. Apparently the PTBs feel that teaching students to type is more valuable in this digital age, and beyond being able to sign their names, they don't think know how to write longhand is of any value. Really? What happens if said student is somewhere with no access to a computer or other keyboard and has to write an urgent message like "Help! I'm stuck out here in the wilderness in desperate need of rescue! SOS!" Or just needs to compose a note to stick in someone's door? Are we really beyond the need for paper and pen?
I say no way. WTF, Indiana? Is this the way of the future, and am I just some kind of dinosaur? Hmmmm.
In other news, our brief encounter with royalty is over; William and Kate are now hobnobbing with Hollywood types, having done their bit here in Canada. I must say I have quite a soft spot for them; they've charmed the whole country. I give them a big, Well done! Do come back.
I watched the launch of the last space shuttle this morning. As Atlantis was lifting off, I remembered watching the launch of the very first shuttle, 30 years ago. I was excited about space travel then, and if I could have signed on to the astronaut programme, I would have done it in a heartbeat. Now, with the ending of the shuttle programme, I wonder what will happen to our exploration of space; I hope we don't lose that sense of exploration and adventure. On to Mars!
On the lack of literacy theme, that whole scandal over the phone hacking by the British tabloid press is mind boggling, but is anyone really surprised that they would do something like that? The gutter press isn't just limited to the UK, it's everywhere. I suspect it's a sad commentary on our societies and the slow deterioration of our concept of privacy. That kind of stuff sells papers and boosts TV ratings, so it's no wonder it goes on.
On the home front, it was a pleasant day, work got done, and so on. Nothing exciting, just the usual stuff of everyday living.
I say no way. WTF, Indiana? Is this the way of the future, and am I just some kind of dinosaur? Hmmmm.
In other news, our brief encounter with royalty is over; William and Kate are now hobnobbing with Hollywood types, having done their bit here in Canada. I must say I have quite a soft spot for them; they've charmed the whole country. I give them a big, Well done! Do come back.
I watched the launch of the last space shuttle this morning. As Atlantis was lifting off, I remembered watching the launch of the very first shuttle, 30 years ago. I was excited about space travel then, and if I could have signed on to the astronaut programme, I would have done it in a heartbeat. Now, with the ending of the shuttle programme, I wonder what will happen to our exploration of space; I hope we don't lose that sense of exploration and adventure. On to Mars!
On the lack of literacy theme, that whole scandal over the phone hacking by the British tabloid press is mind boggling, but is anyone really surprised that they would do something like that? The gutter press isn't just limited to the UK, it's everywhere. I suspect it's a sad commentary on our societies and the slow deterioration of our concept of privacy. That kind of stuff sells papers and boosts TV ratings, so it's no wonder it goes on.
On the home front, it was a pleasant day, work got done, and so on. Nothing exciting, just the usual stuff of everyday living.
