Can someone just write what they feel or think and not be subject to interpretation years later by others? Writing consists of words.  Words mean things.  Words strung together create a sentence.  Several sentences create a paragraph.  Several paragraphs create an essay or article.  That seems pretty simple to me.  Writing is used to communicate a message.  A message can be for sympathy, condolences, greetings, congratulations, news or entertainment.  Accept it for what it is and enjoy or appreciate all that is written.

During my middle school years, and it seems every year after that, we spent hour upon hour diagramming sentences. Why.  I don’t know that I have ever diagrammed a sentence since I completed school.  During English or Grammar class we dwelt on commas, colons, quotation marks, exclamation marks and other punctuation.  We were graded on and instructed in the art of cursive writing and correct spelling.  Due to the advances in modern education these factors are not considered important enough to waste time in educating young minds.

I have just completed, and am trying to recover from, an evening with a high school student on a class project of interpreting the works of William Shakespeare. Old William wrote these epics long, long ago in a language that we have changed completely.  I feel he wrote these purely for entertainment with the hopes of being paid top dollar (or pound, shilling, or whatever) if they were used in productions made totally for entertainment purposes.  Why do we have the necessity to interpret Scene III, Act II, and Line 59 and relate what the underlying message was?  Do we really need to know what subtle message he was sending?  We need to read and enjoy it for pleasure or use it in the school play we will be entertaining classmates with, while earning money for the P.T.A.

I have come to the conclusion this is what we call busy work and actually teaches very little if anything at all. Teachers are able to give these idle assignments to look like they are keeping the class busy, and then take time off while a substitute teacher that knows nothing about what has gone on in the classroom presides.  This particular instructor has missed so many days this school year that she would not have a job in private enterprise.  These actions are condoned and promoted by a strong teachers union and tenure.

Let me now assist you. If by chance you are having trouble interpreting the underlying message I am attempting to put across, it is: public education needs to get back on track and educate.  Control and oversight of our schools need to leave Washington, and we the locals determine what and how subjects are taught in our communities.

Thanks for letting me vent. The interpretation for that phrase is: I am grateful I had the opportunity to share my evaluation on the state of schools in today’s world.  No further interpretation is needed.

 The thoughts and ideas expressed above are exclusively those of Jack Straley. We may agree, and that’s fine, or we may disagree, that’s okay too.  My sole purpose is to encourage others to think, study, and become involved. Exercise your freedom and above all else please vote.