Nursery staff - Should I raise an issue about the constant grammatical errors in speech?

[mummyjaguar]

I am concerned. DS1 (3) and DS2 (11 months) both go to a good nursery where I am confident that they are well looked after. However, the way the staff speak is dreadful. The most common error is the use of the word "was" where they should be using "were" i.e. "we was". Most of them seem to do it.

I couldn't really care less if they want to speak that way apart from the fact that DS1, who had no problems at all using was and were correctly a year ago, is now constantly saying "we was".

I don't want to embarrass the nursery staff (particularly since the nursery manager is the worst culprit) but I don't want the DSs picking up things like this.

Am I just being snobby? If not, how do I raise it without upsetting people?

Please don't criticise my grammar by the way. I've never re-read a message as many times as I have this one - hate posting about grammatical errors just in case I have lots myself!!

[CristinaTheAstonishing]

They'll hear all sorts of speech but will eventually settle on the one most commonly used at home and around them.

I think you are being snobby as you probably cringe at the thought others will hear your DSes and think that how you speak. I can't blame you on this one, though.

[Threadwormm]

I certainly wouldn't mention it. There are all sorts of variants on standard English, and our children ultimately grow up to be multilingual in their ability to switch between them and follow them all.

I'm sure the staff would be a bit

[nell12]

I have struggled with this one... dds nursery staff are wonderful but say was instead of were, dont instead of didn't etc etc

I have had to look beyond it, as in all other ways they are exceptional and I can always beat it out of dd as she gets older

[PortAndLemon]

Your children won't be was-ing for life. If they are happy and secure at the nursery, that's the important thing. Leave it be.

[pavlovthecat]

I occasionally get written daily reports with spelling errors in them. I find it amusing, but then DD is too young to read it!

I think its ok for the odd variation in language to be heard by toddlers, they will copy the most commonly heard words, and you can correct your own child's language as they grow.

The funniest spelling errors I have come across have been:
Pudding - flat jack
Veg stickes
Yoget

[harpomarx]

don't worry about it mummyj!

as Cristina says, they will settle on the speech they will settle on, and that will probably be the way you speak (until they are teenagers, of course )

a 3 year old will make grammatical errors anyway since it is part of the process of learning a language. That's why kids often start by using the correct irregular form of a verb such as 'I went', because that is what they have heard. Later they might say 'I goed' because they are learning the rules of verb formation and trying to regularize.

I really wouldn't raise it, I think it would be inappropriate.

[mummyjaguar]

You're all right I'm sure. In any event I'm on the PTA and would make myself very unpopular!!

I guess if DS1 can listen to the Americanisms on Nick Jnr and survive he can cope with a few "we was"s (that must be gramatically incorrect!).

Just have to drill it out of him before the school interview in 6 months' time (MummyJ suddenly realises the source of her anxieties is probably the dreaded "entrance test")

[harpomarx]

oh my god, do kids at private schools (it is a private school right?) get interviewed?

poor buggers!

[mummyjaguar]

Both the children and the parents.

Awful isn't it.

[bodiddly]

I have had some similar concerns with my ds recently to be honest. I heard a classic the other day when I went in to pick him up. All the children were sitting around looking at a map of the world talking about which animals lived in which countries etc when a member of staff piped up which black and white animal lives here (in india) ... a panda bear! Good god, how do they expect children to learn when staff are putting ideas like that in their heads. I just hope it was a one off but I very much doubt it!

[harpomarx]

tell me it's not separately mummyj?

[mummyjaguar]

No - it is. The parents have an interview. On a separate day the child has a one on one interview and then if shortlisted has a further day long session to see how they cope.

Awful awful awful - its a disgrace that you can't just buy your way into a decent education anymore

[cory]

'We was' is a correct dialectal variant in many parts of the country. Would you ban a Yorkshire accent from nursery? Or a Scots one? What about dialectal words?

Naturally, it is not how you want your children to speak when they are being interviewed for Oxbridge, but if they are intelligent enough to get that far, they will also be able to tell the difference between dialectal forms and educated forms. Intelligent and well educated people usually have a very good understanding of codes. But tbh you have a much greater responsibility when it comes to your children turning out well educated than the nursery can reasonably be expected to have.

As a university teacher, I can assure you that we hear all sorts of different language these days- both from students and staff. Not a problem.

[mummyjaguar]

Cory I'm hopeful he will have mastered the difference by the time he has Oxbridge interviews . Not so sure about the interview at age three!!

I've only just realised that I'm probably worrying because of the interview thing. I have no issue with accents and of course we as parents have a responsibility for our child's education however our child spends more time at nursery than he does with us (and there's a whole new can of worms!!)and so he will be heavily influenced by what he hears there.

I won't say anthing though. i agree it will just embarrass the staff.