|
|
|
|
by Douglas Dow, Editor
Perhaps your ears perked up as mine did on the morning of September 14th, when the announcer on the radio began to speak of a report "more alarming than that of the 9/11 Commission." What could be so dire?
As it turns out, it was the findings of the National Commission on Writing for America's Families, Schools, and Colleges. Writing skills are on the decline in America, just at a time when they are more valued than ever.
How can this be? Are STC professionals not among the more expendable workers in America's globally-challenged economy? Not if you believe this report.
"Writing: A Ticket to Work... Or a Ticket Out"
This report, a survey of business leaders, is a follow-up to "The Neglected R," of April 2003, both compiled by the National Commission on Writing, a committee of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). The first report calls for a "writing revolution," since writing is "the most neglected of the three "R's." (Since this may be an Americanism, I'll spell this out for foreign readers: Reading, [w]Riting, [a]Rithmetic.) The commission suggests improvements in writing education at all levels.
The more recent report is a survey of the Business Roundtable, a group of America's top 100 CEOs. It asks of these leaders
See the survey for detailed answers to these questions. For STC members, however, the startling news is that (at least in these top 100 companies), one-third of professional employees, both experienced workers and new-hires, do not have the writing skills the companies expect.
("We're here, we're here," I hear you cry as your hands wave in the air!)
Comments from hiring managers deplore the skills of new college graduates. "Spelling, grammar, sentence structure... I can't believe people come out of college not knowing what a sentence is," says one. Another observes, "Recent graduates may be trained in academic writing, but we find that kind of writing too verbose and wandering."
Do STC members sense an opportunity here?
More than 40 percent of these firms do offer or require training in writing skills for professionals who need it. On average, this training costs $950 per employee, and American corporations may spend as much as $3.1 billion (with a 'B') to do it. That does not count government agencies or the retail/wholesale sectors. Some of these companies send people to "technical writing" courses.
One more thing: according to a source cited in the report (page 8), although payroll and IT functions are the most likely targets for outsourcing, functions that emphasize communications are least likely to be outsourced.
Does STC Have a Role?
The CEEB clearly serves the academic community, but through its educational and outreach programs, STC has a stake in the issue of writing skills in America and elsewhere. Yet not one of the members of the National Commission on Writing has an STC credential. (I looked up each name in the STC database.)
Does our organization have a role to play in the improvement of communication skills in America? Are we not the pinnacle of what the CEEB aspires for, for all American communicators? Should an STC member serve on the Commission? And, if writing is so important, why are 60 percent of all American professionals not members of STC?
This report adds value to our profession and to our membership in STC. If you have answers to any of the above questions, I invite you to contact the STC leadership or the STC office.