On May 16, 2009, at 9:20 PM, Craig Hancock wrote:
> You don't help students by giving them
> a false description of language because you believe they aren't  
> capable
> of the truth.


Maybe we don't actually disagree.  If a teacher actually told her  
students that good writers never start sentences with the word  
"because" or an essay that doesn't have a thesis at the end of the  
first paragraph is wrong and an example of bad writing, then I am  
with you.  That is false information.

But a teacher who tells her students that they can only write in  
pencil, or that they must show their work, or that their essay must  
have 5 paragraphs is not giving them false information.  Should a  
teacher clarify that the rule about "because" is only for this class  
and that when they are older they may break this rule?  Yes.  I think  
that probably does happen.  I think it is too much for some students  
to process, and what they retain is just the rule itself.

> "Vary sentence starts" would be another example of bad advice.

I am surprise that you believe this.  I notice you vary your sentence  
starts.  I do too.  I would only break that rule to prove a point.  I  
hope I have proved it.  I am not sure if I have.  I hope you will let  
me know.

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