Re: Left-handers and learning
Ken Goodman (kgoodman who-is-at u.arizona.edu)
Wed, 10 Feb 1999 15:12:39 -0700
Phil,
Do you folks in Australia think differently because you drive on the
wrong side (from uS perspectives) of the street? From my observations if
there are problems for left-handed people it's because they are expected
to do things with the left-hand but as if they are right handed. Though
there are such things as left-handed scissors, left-handed chair desks,
etc. they are often not available. When left-handed kids learn to write
their writing is expected to slant like right handed writing. Even
language penalizes the lefties: The Latin for left is sinister and for
right is dexter. In French right is adroit and left is gauche.
In class discussions on prejudice I often ask my left-handed students to
share their personal horror stories. MY right-handed students have
trouble believing them.
Ken Goodman
--
Kenneth S. Goodman, Professor, Language, Reading & Culture
504 College of Education, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
fax 520 7456895 phone 520 6217868
These are mean times- and in the mean time
We need to Learn to Live Under Water