Why knowing how to spell is important

This is an age of the shorthand, the minimalist texting abbreviations, the fast-food mentality of social trends, the age of the 140-character 'Tweet.  It has even been proposed that spelling instruction be done away with at schools, in favor of phonetic spelling.  I fail to comprehend how educators have reached the conclusion that phonetic spelling passes the test of education.  The word nation would be spelled as nashion, patient would be pashient, alphabet would be alfabet and laughter would morph into lafter.  This is laughable, if it weren't tragic.  It has been shown again and again that the United States lags other developed countries in education.  How are we to compete in the world if our children don't learn how to spell?  And if our children don't learn, they will become illiterate adults.  Yes, illiterate, in its literal sense; one who is unable to read or write; illiterate, meaning unlettered.

You scoff.  Surely, I'm exaggerating; surely, I'm on my soapbox again.  But consider: as the child matures into an adult and his or her education proceeds, how is that child to understand what it is he or she is studying? Words convey different meanings when spelled differently.  First of all, one would be considered illiterate if one were to speak in the current jargon of the young: LMAO, WSF, LOL.  But what of such words as cite/site/sight?  All three sound the same when spoken, but mean entirely different things when read.  Then, there is oral/aural - again, similar sounding, but meaning entirely different things.  And so it is with anytime/any time, or anymore/any more, hoard/horde, persecutor/prosecutor (although not sounding exactly the same).  Learning consists of diligent work in understanding what one reads, as well as in the ability to write essays that convey correct meaning.  Our children grow up to be the adults of the future; and sadly our current adults seem to lack a great deal of wisdom when it comes to educating themselves and their progeny.  Who came up with this idea of phonetic spelling?  Would anyone accept the proposition that our future doctors, bankers, judges or lawyers be unable to read, write or interpret what they have before them?