Concern over written word

THE QUALITY of written expression remains an issue of “burning concern” for educators in Barbados, says teacher Rosemary Rudder, the debate facilitator for Alexandra School.
Rudder was speaking on behalf of the St Peter school at an awards ceremony at the Barbados Accreditation Council (BAC), which hosted the inaugural National Secondary School Debate yesterday.
Alexandra won the debate from runners-up The St Michael School, Springer Memorial, Frederick Smith, Harrison College and Princess Margaret.
Noting that the moot for the debate – The Extensive Use of Social Media has a Negative Impact on the Quality of Written Expression – was timely, Rudder said there were having problems with the quality of written expression at all levels of the system, even up to university level.
“[The] concern that has been raised about students entering the university, and their ability to articulate their ideas creatively and effectively, and also the influence of the Internet on the students’ ability to express themselves effectively,” Rudder stated.
She said they also welcomed the opportunity for students to give their views.
Yvonne Walkes, chairman of the BAC, also spoke of the relevance of the subject as “there appears to be a perception that the extensive use of social media networks has contributed to the decline in written communication skills that impact on the workplace”. (YB)