If you think that the level of English education should be left “as is” then please look at the quality of posts on YWN. Some are written in an enlightening way and are clearly understandable. But, on the most part, the younger, yeshivish/frum population do not know how to read, write and think critically. They are unable to do basic math and are stalled by the most basic of basic science and history questions. I have stepped foot into a middle school Chol classroom and was appalled by what I saw hanging on the wall. The students were asked a question and had to respond in paragraph form. Firstly, the spelling, punctuation, and grammar were atrocious! The teacher corrected them but did not make the students re-write it or lower their grades because of it. Additionally, 99% of the students all wrote the same exact response to the topic. Obviously, the teacher had told them what to write and then they all copied it word for word. This needs to be rectified. Yes, they do not have to be able to analyze War and Peace. But we do need more emphasis on the basics. We are doing a big disservice to our children otherwise. How else can they work in the real world if they cannot read and write?
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