LEONARD COLQUHOUN
Actually, Comment 10, it is between ‘less’ and ‘fewer’, but your overall point is right on. Probably, though, there would have been hardly anyone who did know it, because most would have come through schools where the teachers did not know that there was a difference, let alone what it was. It’s spun as ‘child-centred education’, where the children ‘are in control of their own learning’.
Of course, in a sense, everything in schools should be ‘child-centred’, but not in the ways usually meant in this context.
Teachers have two distinct and complementary roles which have been neatly summed in these two expressions –
~ “the sage on the stage”, and
~ “the guide on the side”.
Link – http://members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/teacherrole.html
The trick is to know when each is appropriate, and to realise that one by itself is no way near enough.
Being a ‘guide’ has been drummed into teachers in recent times, and the importance of being a ‘sage’ has been lessened, even ridiculed: you can sense the sneering in claims like “ramming facts down kids’ throats”.
Sadly, amazingly, appallingly, teachers are no longer honoured for knowing stuff, lots of stuff.
Such as the difference between ‘fewer’ and ‘less’.
As for the distinction between ‘amount’ and ‘number’, . . .
This observation appears in comments at the end of this item, HERE. Comment HERE
