Fertile time for the written word

THE ONLY constant in the history of the English language has been the unceasing evolution of stylistic conventions. The text-message-style prose in "the revenge of e.e. cummings" is no more difficult to decode than, for instance, "A briefe and true report of the new found land of Virginia of the commodities and of the nature and manners of the naturall inhabitants" from 1588. To concern ourselves with a decline in capitalization is as silly as lamenting the loss of the final "e" from "briefe."

The more important findings of the Pew report were that 85 percent of teenagers communicate with some regularity in writing, and 86 percent of teens believe that a command of formal writing will be important for their future success. These are encouraging data for educators. The explosion of writing in youth culture offers a tremendous opportunity for teachers to tap into teens' enthusiasm for writing. No time is "2 L8" for teachers to help students to identify the best practices of effective communication - strong arguments, compelling evidence, and clear, concise language - and to craft writing embodying those best practices, whether in academic essays or online forums.

JUSTIN REICH
Arlington
The writer is a doctoral student at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and the codirector of the Center for Teaching History with Technology.

the texting of english will end, as e.e. cummings wrote, with 'the splendor of an angel's fart.'

MORTON KURZWEIL
Margate, Fla.

THE PRESIDENTIAL campaign is energizing constituencies who have been dismayed by the Bush administration's frequently right-wing policies. But unfortunately, gay and lesbian issues are being downplayed by the major candidates, in the longstanding traditions of both parties.

Here in Massachusetts, the milestone of the legalization of same-sex marriage has obscured issues of national importance. Federal civil rights laws still do not include gay citizens in their protections, nor have any of the major candidates pledged to make passage of a national gay rights bill a top priority.

Gay high school and college students continue to be subjected to taunting, verbal abuse, and physical violence from classmates. For many gay youth, social isolation is a painful daily reality, and their rate of attempted suicide remains alarmingly high.

Senators Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain all need to be pressed to end their silence and complacency regarding anti-gay discrimination, and to offer gay Americans a substantial platform for action that can be taken at the national level.

DAVID LaFONTAINE
Canton
The writer was chairman of the Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth from 1992 to 2000.

I CAN respond to Richie Zemeitus's April 30 letter "Can't anyone rein in DiMasi?" in just two words: two-party state.

JOHN NORTHGRAVES
Millis

JUDGING BY recent letters ("MIT piano drop strikes wrong chord," April 28), some of us are upset by the prank at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I just view it as an offering to our official national religion: consumption.

PHILIP MAHLER
Carlisle

AS THE superintendent of the Northern Berkshire Vocational Regional School District, I was troubled that Scot Lehigh questioned a life sciences bill that directs funds to one of our state colleges ("One bill's journey through Beacon Hill," Op-ed, April 25). The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts plays a vital role not only in educating Berkshire County residents, but has expanded its mission by serving as the lead partner in the initiatives supporting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and the Berkshire Compact for Higher Education. MCLA serves as a tremendous pipeline as it prepares our county's high school students with the knowledge and skills to enter the workforce and supports Massachusetts as it strives to be a leader in scientific development and employment.

Why would the Commonwealth overlook one of its most valuable resources, Berkshire County, in the effort to focus on this important industry? Lehigh is ignoring that the Commonwealth has an important asset in Western Massachusetts. Physics and biology are among the five fastest-growing majors at MCLA, and we owe it to those students, 75 percent of whom are from Massachusetts, to provide them with the tools they need.

The essential role that an up-to-date science facility in this region would serve cannot be understated. Without it our students, and this part of the Commonwealth, will be left behind. It is vital that the students of Berkshire County have the same opportunities as residents of other parts of the state.

JAMES J. BROSNAN
North Adams

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