Were all the hours spent in school just a waste of time? As youngsters,
we were told we had to go to school to make any headway in life.
We had to learn reading, writing, spelling, as well as many other
major subjects.
Many
of us struggled with school because it restricted our time
too much. We had to give up time we could have spent
playing ball, shooting hoops, fishing or hunting, activities
we believed were more important.
I’m still not sure school
was all that essential. Take writing for example. In school,
we were taught 2C how important spelling was, we had to study
proper spelling. Why was properly spelling each word so important?
We were told with properly spelled words we could construct sentences,
phrases and paragraphs. We spent hours and hours learning how
to spell, but why? Little did we know, soon we would all be tweeting
on Twitter (an activity the New York Times calls one of the fastest
growing phenomenon on the Internet).
In
today’s world, after
all our schooling including months of typing classes, we no longer
use typewriters or construct sentences of properly spelled words.
We abbreviate as many words as possible. BTW, (by the way) if
my grade school teachers were to come upon messages such as those
we routinely send via electronic devices, they would have breakdowns.
FYI, we would all be assigned homework every day for the rest
of our lives.
Homework
was another thing I never understood while attending school.
It took many after school hours that I thought
would be better spent playing ball. I remember teachers
saying, “You
have to do your school work, never mind playing sports unless
you’ve finished your homework.”
Teachers
who said to spend our time studying spelling were unable to
see into the
future. I ask you, “How much does a good speller get paid?” Another
question, “How much does a professional ball player make?” I
believe some of them make as much in one season as many teachers
make in their entire teaching career. Perhaps some of the teachers
should have taken up teaching baseball, golf or football instead
of the use of proper English.
I
have seen professional athletes responding to interviews who
were unable to speak proper English
but they make a lot more money than scholars who
have a perfect grasp of English usage.
Maybe
teachers should have taught how
to sell things. I have read reports of a professional
golfer who makes six figures just by letting a manufacturer
use his
name on products. A familiar sports name can be
found on products in the underwear department of men’s stores and who can
resist buying a sports car from a big name football star? (Yep,
it’s Dan Marino).
I
guess schools should teach you that everything you learn in
school will probably be extinct in 10
years (or less). At least you have a reference
resource I never had, it’s called a computer. Some of us still have our
doubts however that the computer is easier to use than Webster
or Britannica. For those who don’t remember those reference
works they are the dictionary and the encyclopedia.
As
I see it, our current use of electronics has proven that many
of us have
way too much spare time. Perhaps today’s teachers should
assign more homework. For those teachers with classes made up
of future star athletes however, keep those students updated
with name and address labels to mail the checks to.
P.S.
Parents or grandparents reading this column need not be alarmed
their
children will say, “Captain Davis said school is a waste
of time.” Most of the young people today don’t read
anything that has more than three letters — 404 (I haven’t
a clue), A3 (anyplace, anywhere, anytime), ADN (any day now).
BFN
(bye for now) and TNT (till next time)
VBG (very big grin)!! Oops forgot one we all know and love,
TGIF.