A retired high school English teacher from Houston has expressed concerns about the decline of grammar skills in US schools. The teacher, who has 42 years of experience, attributes this decline to the lack of emphasis on grammar skills and public speaking in state education departments.

Loss of Speech Courses

According to the teacher, speech courses, which were once required for graduation, have been eliminated from curriculums. As a result, foreign language teachers have had to take on the responsibility of teaching grammar skills, which are essential for learning a second language.

The teacher recalls incorporating grammar lessons into their classes, including diagramming sentences and assigning projects that required students to speak in front of their classmates. The teacher also laments the decline of cursive penmanship, which they believe is an important skill for students to learn.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.