random poll

[rm]

Super busy. Am suddenly curious about this. Apparently most kids entering college in the US this year don't know how to write in cursive. I suspect this is less a sign of the apocalypse than it feels like to me.

So, tell me things (as usual, poll is un-scientific and reflects my biases and experiences (and 49-year-olds can choose which age category they like better!) -- if the boxes don't work, my apologies and comments super welcome.):

[Poll #1607173]

Comments

[manycolored.livejournal.com]

Cursive was taught to everybody in 3rd grade.

Due to budget cuts, there were very few electives. Courses in the arts were very sparse and I was never allowed to take them because they were reserved for the kids of families who could afford to send them to art/music classes/camps. It was assumed that if you were going to college, you wouldn't be interested in anything but honors academic courses APs. The "dumb" kids were funneled into an afternoon technical school program that was actually quite good, although it obviously suffered because it was assumed to be the safety valve for dumb kids rather than an alternative for anybody who wanted to be a mechanic, electrician, plumber, etc.

Everybody took Home and Careers (mending, cooking, cleaning, bill paying), Occupational Education (looking for job offers, interviewing, making a resume, how to dress, etc.), Health (nutrition, mental health, eating disorders, substance abuse, pregnancy prevention, STDs), Wood Shop, Metal Shop, Lifetime Fitness, Music Appreciation (bullshit), and Art Appreciation (also bullshit.) We were all encouraged to take Basic Swimming, Basic First Aid, Typing, Studio Art, and Chorus.