Comments on: Why You MUST Write That Children’s Book http://www.emmawaltonhamilton.com/why-you-need-to-write-that-childrens-book/ Raising the Next Generation of Readers and Writers Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:02:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: gary http://www.emmawaltonhamilton.com/why-you-need-to-write-that-childrens-book/comment-page-1/#comment-249 gary Wed, 05 May 2010 21:45:30 +0000 http://www.emmawaltonhamilton.com/?p=1079#comment-249 Dear Emma, Your statement: "But with all that competes for our attention these days, from television to the internet to electronic games and social networking, we face the possibility of a serious decline in the reading and writing skills of the next generation." .............is on target and expresses my own worry about the generation who follows behind me. I've seen first hand, the slackened approach to the fundamentals of literature, grammar, reading. I'm rusty as hell when it comes to my own, but to know that there are young adults graduating from high school and college without a solid background in these areas is chilling. I had the misfortune of a complicated youth, absent of reading and the nourishment that it can and does provide. It was a long road to come as far as I have but along the way, I somehow saw and understood the value in the elements of grammar, spelling, reading. My nephews are of high school age, have avidly read all of their lives and consistently rank in the upper 5-10% of their class. I am often asked to edit my nephews' writing assignments as well as, nightly editing of Food Safety Audits (of all things!). The professionally contracted audits that companies spend thousands on, leave me wondering what the hell is going on? Despite my own education deficits, I am stunned by the poor spelling, incomplete thoughts, jumbled logic etc. of both. I can only conclude that the competition for our attentions in this electronic age (and within the "living out loud" social networks) has a stronger hold on us than I would like to think. Thanks for the soap box rental. I value your thoughts and ideas. Warmest regards, Gary Dear Emma,
Your statement: “But with all that competes for our attention these days, from television to the internet to electronic games and social networking, we face the possibility of a serious decline in the reading and writing skills of the next generation.”
………….is on target and expresses my own worry about the generation who follows behind me. I’ve seen first hand, the slackened approach to the fundamentals of literature, grammar, reading. I’m rusty as hell when it comes to my own, but to know that there are young adults graduating from high school and college without a solid background in these areas is chilling.

I had the misfortune of a complicated youth, absent of reading and the nourishment that it can and does provide. It was a long road to come as far as I have but along the way, I somehow saw and understood the value in the elements of grammar, spelling, reading.

My nephews are of high school age, have avidly read all of their lives and consistently rank in the upper 5-10% of their class. I am often asked to edit my nephews’ writing assignments as well as, nightly editing of Food Safety Audits (of all things!). The professionally contracted audits that companies spend thousands on, leave me wondering what the hell is going on? Despite my own education deficits, I am stunned by the poor spelling, incomplete thoughts, jumbled logic etc. of both.

I can only conclude that the competition for our attentions in this electronic age (and within the “living out loud” social networks) has a stronger hold on us than I would like to think.

Thanks for the soap box rental. I value your thoughts and ideas.
Warmest regards,
Gary

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