Jason McCabe
Thom Mackenzie
RHET 1302-018
August 30, 2005

Jason McCabe: How has my writing grown over my years in school?

Kim McCabe (Mom): You've always been creative with your thoughts when you're writing and that has grown as you experience more things in life. You've always had a sense of humor in your writing and you've gotten better at expressing your views on things that are happening in your life and the world.

JM: When did I start to read? Was I good reader?

KM: We started reading books with you at a very early age; probably around 18 months. It's seems like such a long time ago...you always enjoyed describing what was happening on a page in a book even when you couldn't read yet. Reading actual words probably began around age 4. As you got older and watched more t.v. and played video games, you lost interest in reading, but you got someinterest back during your high school years and read books that were based on movies you had seen. You also read books that were assigned for you to read and you actually enjoyed some of these books.

JM: What year did I have the greatest improvement in my writing?

KM: I noticed you were getting better at expressing yourself during your junior year of high school. Writing was never one of your better subjects. You always excelled in math classes and usually if something interests you, then you will pursue it further. Writing didn't interest you very much.

JM: What was the biggest mistake you made as a parent regarding my education?

KM: I don't think I made any mistakes as far as your education. I think the school system made a mistake by thinking that creativity was more important than grammar. Teachers encouraged the kids to spell words any way they wanted or run sentences together any way they wanted and this caused you to have poor grammar skills. And I don't think the school system does a very good job of teaching good grammar. Your grammar has improved through the years, but it's still frustrating at times for you to write your thoughts in the proper manner.

JM: Am I more of an independent thinker or have I seemed to follow others way of thinking?

KM: This question makes my smile. You have always been an independent thinker or a non-conformist. You question why things are done the way they are and have always felt they should or could be done differently in some instances. I have always admired that about you. You're always changing the way you think about things or how you feel about life and I believe that's just part of growing older and being more independent and maturing.