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The world ends with a sweet smile
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2022 1:09 pm
by MajGenl.Meade
Went for breakfast to a local noshery yesterday. Greeted by a charming young lady, all of 18 looking about 14, who took us to the table. She noticed I had a book (Margaretta's book was in her shoulder suitcase).
"What are you reading?" she enquired. I showed her the title "Rebellion; the History of England from James I to the Glorious Revoltion".
"It's part of Peter Ackroyd's history of England," quoth I, helpfully (and not redundantly), "It's the third book in a series"
"It's non-fiction?!?" she breathed, tremulously. (And all credit - she knew that).
Upon my confirmation, she smiled sweetly and said, "Oh. I haven't done any history since middle school".
Re: The world ends with a sweet smile
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2022 2:21 pm
by Bicycle Bill
And this comes as a surprise to you?
I'll bet you a pence to a pound that she hasn't done any maths in that length of time either.
-"BB"-
Re: The world ends with a sweet smile
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2022 2:52 pm
by BoSoxGal
When I attended a trial advocacy course at NITA, they heavily emphasized that we needed to craft our opening and closing statements and presentation of evidence with the objective being to meet a 6-8th grade vocabulary/comprehension level. The vast majority of people don’t read once they aren’t required to for schooling and many regress from the achievements of high school over time. Most don’t sit around thinking critically about the world, either.
It’s disheartening but it is what it is. We only get one life and some folks are content to spend it watching sports and Jackass and porn on the internet. When I was 10 I wanted to read ALL the books. Obviously at that age I didn’t realize how large the library actually is.
Re: The world ends with a sweet smile
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2022 3:27 pm
by MajGenl.Meade
I think it was the "middle school" that got to me.
If she'd said "high school" then . . . oh well.
Re: The world ends with a sweet smile
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2022 9:50 pm
by Burning Petard
I spent most of my 39 years with a company making medical diagnostics kits, writing safety instructions for customers. The goal was that magic 6-8th grade reading level. It included such gems (on a five liter container of ultra-pure water) "I you spill any on hands or face, rinse of with clear warm water."
It was a relief to come home to my wife, two young children, the dog and speak in real conversational Adult language--even to the kids and dog.
snailgate
Re: The world ends with a sweet smile
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2022 3:56 am
by Jarlaxle
BoSoxGal wrote: ↑Sat Jul 30, 2022 2:52 pm
When I attended a trial advocacy course at NITA, they heavily emphasized that we needed to craft our opening and closing statements and presentation of evidence with the objective being to meet a 6-8th grade vocabulary/comprehension level. The vast majority of people don’t read once they aren’t required to for schooling and many regress from the achievements of high school over time. Most don’t sit around thinking critically about the world, either.
It’s disheartening but it is what it is. We only get one life and some folks are content to spend it watching sports and Jackass and porn on the internet. When I was 10 I wanted to read ALL the books. Obviously at that age I didn’t realize how large the library actually is.
Hey...some of us like sports and porn, and books!
