With English, I always thought there was too much emphasis on analyzing and not enough on the technical. Then again, I happen to be gifted with analyzing, and I wanted to learn more about the technical. Once I reached high school and was more open to learning that is.

Funny story actually, in my grade 12 year, we had to write an essay on A Street Car Named Desire. The essay had to provide evidence from the play that Stan raped Blanche. I wrote an essay on how Blanche seduced Stan, using evidence from the play. Got full marks too!

That’s just how I operated in school though; always working outside the box. It’s why I got along famously with some teacher and horribly with others.

Bottom line though is that I agree that English is just as important as Math. And I’m from a very technical background (took Engineering and I’m presently a Network Support Analyst). I work with programs and scripts and operating systems and hardware. And I still say English is fundamentally important.

Ironically enough, I do have to say English as opposed to other languages in this particular case too. Computers speak English. They don’t speak Japanese or German. Call it a fundamental flaw, but computer languages (which a few interesting exceptions) are all based on the English language.

The ability to first comprehend the text that you are reading, and then to be able to analyze it and glean the information you require from it makes a class like English quite fundamental. Without it, you cannot progress through the other subjects. I don’t think it is more important than Math, but I don’t think it is less important either.

I think the point here is that each subject has its own aspects to offer. Each subject provides some sort of insight or understanding or knowledge about our world and how to interact with it. Any subject that is dismissed will have an impact on your abilities in the so called “real world” after you finish school.

That said, there’s nothing wrong with choosing to go into trades or to pursue some other career. Each of us has to carve out our own path.

And yes, Jeff, I also enjoy watching Two and a Half Men. Heck, even The Simpsons uses literary references. I think we all remember the Lord of the Flies episode.

I appreciate company who can make good jokes about our literature and what not. Even the show Two and a Half Men employs jokes with reference to George Orwell’s work. Uneducated people won’t get those jokes. Simple as that. Even when you converse with somebody, you can immediately sense the depth of ones character, and some people simply lack the depth – they only focus on the superficial practicalities.

Can’t wait to get started.

Reading not only sharpens the thought process, it also helps improve a persons writing skills. We have seen a direct correlation between a focus on reading for the state testing and increased writing scores.

Everything is intertwined, which I believe is the whole focus of these post Michael. Math, reading, writing, science, logic, common sense are all intertwined to make us better people.