Rant

Imagine a world where everyone writes in text-speak. Books, billboards, even legal documents are full of "ikd, bff, lol" and all of the other abbreviations that are rampant today. Nonsense you say? Well, I get tests and homework (which should represent a student's best work) with idk splashed all over them. Back in the day students at least had the courtesy to leave a question blank if they had no clue. Now those three letters are enough. What will a society based on 'idk' look like? I imagine people of all ages walking around attached to their cell phones, endlessly texting. People are so used to virtual relationships through email and text, that they can't hold a conversation with a real person. They can no longer even form a sentence that is longer than 3-5 abbreviated words. Let alone tolerating a slightly irritating habit that a friend may have.

Many people in this world have no idea that there is a difference between their, they're, and there. They have no idea about parallel structure, or subject-verb agreement, or when to use a comma. Simple things, but can a person accurately and effectively communicate without these things? If one's vocabulary is limited, can one select the most accurate word to describe a situation? I think not.

Technical writing. Does it have a place to today's modern, and casual world? I've heard many students and even a few colleagues of mine say, "meh, I guess if you want to be a scientist or something" but I say that every job, every life style has a place for technical writing somewhere.

I believe there is a strong place for technical writing in the modern world. As jobs today require more education and degrees, technical or not, the rising generation will be expected to be competent and communicative.


What do you think?

Lately

1. Found a black widow hanging on the front door. Killed it with a shovel.
2. Hubby turned 25. Happy Birthday! I love you Babe!
3. Hubby got the flu and had a fever. Not fun.
4. Decided I wanted to improve my handwriting.
5. Decided I would rather improve my typing accuracy since I spend more tie typing for work.
6. Decided I would waste less time on the computer by no watching Hulu without Hubby (our leisure time together is very short)
7. Started making a draft stop thing for my kithen door out of boredome because of #6.
8. Got first pair of converse all-stars. In grey-blue. Been wondering where they've been my whole life.
9. I get to announce that I'm going to be an Aunt for the first time. I am DELIGHTED.
10. Realied that everyone is having babies but me. I'm still ok with that.
11. Had my students listen to Danse Macabre by Camille Saint- Saens. No one could guess what it was. I'm distraught.

Wasting a Life

One of my students told me today that I was wasting my life teaching. She thought that I could be doing so much more. That I could have a bigger impact.

I asked her what she would do if she didn't have teachers.

"Probably nothing" was her reply.

Some days I feel like I'm wasting my life. Some days I feel like there is nothing that I can do to affect change or help people become better.

I hope I'm not wasting my time and energy.
I hope that those I teach can make a difference.
I hope that these young people will be there to care for others when they are old and unable.
I hope tey become the doctors, lawyers, and activists that will do good.
I hope they learn to think.
I hope they learn to serve and relieve the sufferings of others.
I hope they are inspired.

But some will do great things.

That isn't up to me.

All I know is that I love what I do, that I learn and I grow each day. I'm not wasting my time.