How to use the Font Tag
It’s disheartening, but I got an email this morning from a former co-worker (teacher). He is a Web design/development teacher, and I feel like he has his act together. Here is his email:
So my professor taught us how to use the font tag last night. No joke. I had a hard time not saying anything.
I am not sure if this makes it better, but she said that we had to use “” with our attribute values, though, because then it complies with web standards.
Do I say something?
And here is my response:
This is a really hard situation to be in. I definitely don’t think you should say something in front of the class.
Tread carefully, but I might talk to her alone and explain that you have been doing web design for a very long time. Explain why you use CSS over font tags (why you as a web designer separate content from presentation. Not “you” as in the general public). You’ll get a feeling if she is receptive or not to what you are saying.
Is this a prerequisite for another class? Do you have to take this class? If she isn’t receptive to what you are saying I would try to get out of the class.
Jason
It’s one thing to try to force the teaching of CSS for complete and total page layout on a college professor. I could stomach an argument for the use of tables for certain presentational effects. However, teaching the use of the font tag in 2008 is irresponsible. That might be a little strong considering I don’t know the background of this teacher. Perhaps my friend should try harder to point this professor in the right direction. Your thoughts?
September 17th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Web design is certainly one of those fields where change is constant and you have to read to keep up; it makes you wonder what this person has been reading for the last, say, 10 years.
September 17th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
You are right. Change is definitely constant, and if a student had the expectation that they were going to learn all about -webkit-border-radius in a college web design/dev class, chances are pretty good they would be let down. But the font tag … when almost every single book on the subject matter these days talks about separating content from presentation, and at the college level you are teaching font tags, it might be time to brush up on your skillset.
September 18th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Where is he taking this class?
September 18th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Hey, Tobias. I don’t feel comfortable saying. I actually didn’t even ask him before I posted this article, so I don’t want to say too much. That reminds me, I need to send him an email.