About 25 years ago a call went out to the community for volunteers to help read freshman AP English papers. A teacher can read only so many, and the way to learn to write is to write, so the teachers needed help.
Several dozen of us answered the call, and studied the lessons the students would be doing, so we’d know what to look for. I learned a lot, and used it to good advantage later. There were two teams, afternoon and evening, so the volunteers could work this into their schedules.
Then classes began. We all gathered in one room, sitting at the students’ desks. Papers were distributed randomly. I thought it was great fun. Some students were already good writers, and others needed a lot of instruction.
It was good for the students. Because they couldn’t just scope out the teacher, they had to write for the unknown public at large. The volunteers had their own strengths and weaknesses, so the mix-up of readers helped compensate for the omissions of any one teacher or reader.
We did this for maybe three years, then I went overseas for 10 years. When I returned the whole town was changed, including the schools.
Why can’t we learn from the past and do that again now? I just cringe when our graduates use poor grammar and spelling. They need more help if they want to make an “educated” impression on future employers!
Joan Scofield
Sweet Home