The New Zealand Qualification Authority’s announcement that text-speak would be allowed for some exams will be deplored by all who love the language of Shakespeare. But is it really an issue? Or, as so often happens these days, simply a ?beat-up by a media starved for news and ratings? I think the latter. The news I saw last night would suggest nobody, students included, is taking this seriously, let alone intend to use it. So, why was the story foisted on us? Did the media think we would be interested? Were they scare-mongering? Were they, as so often happens, patronising us again? Probably all of the above. Many will question the efficiency and efficacy of the current education system, some will question where the younger generation is going, most of us haven’t a clue what teenagers are talking about—but in this case, with this beat-up, it’s not us or teenagers who look like idiots, it’s the media.
Next week, George talks to God for the second to last time. Have a good weekend.
