I don’t think I have ever been more grateful to every English teacher from first grade through college, for every book from Goldilocks to Aristotle (ass-backwards timewise, I know; maybe something can be learned here), from Penmanship to Creative Writing, for the close reading, comprehending, editing, rewriting and proofreading skills I have learned and practiced in my life. Than now; reading through legal documents that are clearly binding and yet inaccurate and possibly illegal in their composition.
Reading with full understanding of what is being read is a skill. Picking out phraseology and structure is an art. I would think that with the current concerns about the reading skill levels of students these days that this above all should be immediately remedied. Especially in this day and age of computers where even video games and story are enhanced by text (and vice-versa) that while some kids are just never going to be readers of books is historically true, with communication more dependent upon the visual rather than verbal means, language via written and read medium are of urgent importance in our lives.
Of course Math skills, especially in legal documents, is exceptionally important too, as I’m finding out.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology