"Children do not learn grammar in school anymore unless they attend Catholic School."
Erika: I tutor a 5th-grader whose Syrian parents transferred him from a district school to an Islamic school. I cheer at his homework in English Language Arts. They teach standard English grammar there, through an excellent, traditional curriculum. And he's doing much better this year than last. The improvement is dramatic. So I'd this small amendment to your statement, which just underscores your point.
“ I confess that I love words. I reveled in teaching subject pronouns and object pronouns and possessive pronouns—all grammar.” I’m a word nerd myself. Latin was my favorite subject in high school. I wish I could say I’m surprised about students not being taught grammar, but I’m not. It’s depressing, really, that (some? let it just be some) schools focus so much on gender & the formation of little activists, and kids will graduate lacking a basic grasp of how the English language works. I’ve always had a “multum non multa” (much not many) philosophy of education (I’m not a professional educator but a homeschool mother). There just isn’t that much time in a school day.
If given a clear explanation of the parts of speech, it’s not that hard to grasp. We use First Language Lessons by Jessie Wise, it’s quick & efficient, and a gentle intro Latin book. A direct object is the target of the verb, the indirect object benefits from the direct object. “The queen (S) gave (V) money (DO) to the poet (IO).”
I’ve got to say, with all the discussion of pronouns as they’re being discussed these days, part of me cringes when I have to go over them for our lessons. 😂
"Children do not learn grammar in school anymore unless they attend Catholic School."
Erika: I tutor a 5th-grader whose Syrian parents transferred him from a district school to an Islamic school. I cheer at his homework in English Language Arts. They teach standard English grammar there, through an excellent, traditional curriculum. And he's doing much better this year than last. The improvement is dramatic. So I'd this small amendment to your statement, which just underscores your point.
“ I confess that I love words. I reveled in teaching subject pronouns and object pronouns and possessive pronouns—all grammar.” I’m a word nerd myself. Latin was my favorite subject in high school. I wish I could say I’m surprised about students not being taught grammar, but I’m not. It’s depressing, really, that (some? let it just be some) schools focus so much on gender & the formation of little activists, and kids will graduate lacking a basic grasp of how the English language works. I’ve always had a “multum non multa” (much not many) philosophy of education (I’m not a professional educator but a homeschool mother). There just isn’t that much time in a school day.
If given a clear explanation of the parts of speech, it’s not that hard to grasp. We use First Language Lessons by Jessie Wise, it’s quick & efficient, and a gentle intro Latin book. A direct object is the target of the verb, the indirect object benefits from the direct object. “The queen (S) gave (V) money (DO) to the poet (IO).”
I’ve got to say, with all the discussion of pronouns as they’re being discussed these days, part of me cringes when I have to go over them for our lessons. 😂