Revitalize English communication skills

The richness of our language is being seriously undermined by a variety of influences.  Not the least among them is the increasingly poor job of teaching English communication skills, written and oral, in our public schools.  In the name of diversity, fairness, equality, and other progressive agenda buzzwords, schools are forgoing rigorous academics based on the English language.  There is a collapse of standards, based on English, to which our students are being held accountable. 

In the progressive’s misguided pursuit of “equality,” we see multiple languages represented increasingly across our country.  For example, check out the websites that provide registration for social services and government assistance programs.  Almost universally, one can find Spanish and other language options.  This approach to the use of other languages has essentially transferred to public schooling, where it is considered inappropriate to hold students to high standards of performance in English.  In fact, English is no longer a topic, having been supplanted by the vague term Language Arts.  Ostensibly, this was because the very use of English is considered pejorative by the progressives who control educational philosophy and practice.  Somehow, focusing on English is seen by progressives as injurious to students from low income families or those where English is a second language.  It doesn’t embrace the liberal’s definition of and manic pursuit of diversity.  Hence, standards are lowered, in the expectation it is better for the self-esteem of the children, reduces the stress for the student, and is “fair.”  This fairness philosophy, however, is woefully misguided.

An education system that lowers the standards on the use of the English language is dooming too many the students, by providing lowered levels of capability.  These are readily apparent as all too many students entering post secondary education are failing to meet basic, let alone rigorous, standards.  Hence, many are required to take preliminary courses in writing, rhetoric, etc. before they begin their matriculation.  However, a special one-term course cannot fill the learning void created by 12 years of reduced emphasis.  Consequently, first generation college students from low-income homes are at a decided disadvantage.  As many of these students come from homes where English is a second language, where reading and speaking English are not embraced, the problem is magnified several times over.  They enter college eager to learn, but without the English language skills to do so.  Consequently, many fail to complete their undergraduate degrees, returning to essentially the same level on the ladder of economic success.

The language of higher education and business remains rightfully English.  A nation that fails to provide a large section of its students with the most rigorous education in English communication skills, written and oral, effectively denies those students the ability to enter into higher education and succeed.  This eventually denies entry into the employment sectors providing the highest income levels.  Perversely, the progressive agenda seeking to raise those on the lowest steps of the income ladder actually hinders their advancement by its liberal approach to education.  Is it any wonder, then, that achievement gaps are widening for large segments of our student populations?

English is a rich language that requires revitalization by our public education system.