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RE: The debate that won't die (was RE: Remember secretaries? (was RE: Proof that content is more important than style))
Subject:RE: The debate that won't die (was RE: Remember secretaries? (was RE: Proof that content is more important than style)) From:kcronin -at- daleen -dot- com To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 4 Dec 2002 12:46:02 -0700
Anita wrote:
> Finally, I did NOT state that "anybody" or "everybody" can write
> well if taught. Those generalizations were made by other people.
> I also specifically stated that the ability to learn was a requirement.
But how do you define "the ability to learn?" Most healthy people can
learn. And yet there are things I can't learn to do *well* (I dance like
Elaine on Seinfeld), and I still maintain that many people can NOT be
taught to write well.
If the ability to learn actually means "the ability to learn to write
well," then I guess you're right, but the people who fall into that
category are not the people I'm talking about. If it means "the
willingness to work hard against extremely challenging circumstances" -
such as those your brother faced - I still don't think that this category
covers the general population.
I contend that when dealing with the "average person" - the person who can
be taught to read, write, do math, and get through high school (which mean
this person DOES have the "ability to learn") - such a person can NOT
always be taught to write *well.* Some can, some just can't. I've seen it
time and again.
Your brother sounds like a gifted, intelligent, articulate person, and a
hard worker too, with a sister who's a strong communicator. It's not
surprising to me that he was able to learn to write well - he was in good
company, and may even have genetics on his side. But I think he does NOT
represent Joe Average. I was not surprised to see a teacher chime in on
this post, supporting my position.
We all have different gifts. But most of us also have some gaps. Lauren
Hutton's is between her teeth, but for some it's their literary ability.
Keith Cronin
whose hair is showing that it lacks the ability to learn to grow in
certain areas of his head
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