|
What would it mean for the teaching of writing in general? |
|
Ah, now that's a little more like it. At this point, my teaching experience, in all kinds of settings, with or against all kinds of teaching policies, pushes toward the center of the stage. I've learned that exams invariably become ends in themselves. That would be a disaster for writing--and I see writing as a personal accomplishment, a lifelong skill. Moreover, our students need to be less afraid of writing, not intimidated by an exam, and the same holds true for teachers. With something as difficult as writing well, everyone looks for an easy way out. A competency exam would be a destructive illusion, a way of avoiding the real task: to help people tell each other what is really on their minds. (Definitely hold on to this.)
|
