I know that WeeWilly has moved on, but I couldn't help think of him today. I posted this on my Facebook page today so some of you may have seen it:

quote:

Here is part of a letter that was sent to parents of Harley Avenue Primary School in Elmwood, NY: "The reason for eliminating the Kindergarten show is simple. We are responsible for preparing children for college and career with valuable lifelong skills and know that we can best do that by having them become strong readers, writers, coworkers and problem solvers.

Now, clearly the concept could be debated ad infinitum. Of course, I think it is, as the English say, rubbish. If putting on a show doesn't incorporate lifelong skills, I don't know what does. Further, they are surely blunting any creativity in those kids. However, for Wordcrafters, I had to chuckle a bit at their verbiage. Since they want to encourage writers, I'd think they would have been more of a role model. I found that second sentence awkward, at best, and I do believe WeeWilly would have found some errors in it. I also do not think kindergarten should be capitalized, though I suppose that is petty.

Harley Avenue? Is the cross street Davidson? Are they teaching them to be good little rednecks and ride huge motorcycles?

From their sentence construction, I wondered if those of you in England would normally say "preparing children for career," similar to "going to university" or "going to hospital." We in the U.S. normally would say "preparing children for a career" so I found that construction odd.

No, we wouldn't.
I suspect that the"a" has been left out simply to give some alliteration the the phrase "college and career".

In a letter to parents? I doubt they left out the "a" on purpose, simply for alliteration. Frankly, they seem like a bunch of dolts to me.

I agree with Bob on this one. Yes, we would say "preparing children for a career," but "preparing children for college and career" sounds better than "preparing children for college and a career."

Interesting, Tinman. It does not sound better to me, but then neither does at university or in hospital.

College and career is a handy doublet used to indicate 'their future life' or similar. Maybe 'boredom and drudgery' for their future life doesn't sound so enticing.

Come on, Arnie, it's not that bad, right?

Ah, Kalleh, I knew a practical thinker like yourself would be on my side of the fence when it comes to education policy.

Arnie is right, 'collegeandcareer' is politispeak and might as well be one word.

My husband and I have a fantasy middle school curriculum: an annual play, written, produced and performed by the entire school population

That sounds wonderful, Bethree. And it would take into account all the different kid talents.

And directed by the janitor! (Think "Good Will Hunting"

Egad, Kalleh, that was nice of you, but I am not all that far away, after all, although I was off on holiday through several southern states for the last while!

From my point-of-view this isolated piece from the Harley Avenue Primary School is drivel in at least two ways. First, it says nothing to the point. Second, the last sentence is a complete non-sequitur to the first. The writer has apparently lost sight of the letter’s intent, and the rest of the letter cannot possibly provide a context that makes this a good – or even, acceptable – opening. So this piece is poor because it is poor diction, poor business writing, and poor reasoning.

Try the following as an alternative:

quote:

The Kindergarten Show has been eliminated because we see better ways to develop reading, writing and problem-solving skills, and a sense of community. So, instead….

... this way it says something to the purpose, and, of course, we can then agree or disagree with it!

I agree with Arnie; "college and career" is one of these funny emphasizing doublets that abound in our language - as, for example, "hearth and home", "hale and hearty", "tried and true" and "full and complete" [with reference to "stop"].

Nice to see you, WeeWilly. And I do like your rewording. That original was nebulous, at best.