AIBU to expect my child's Year 1 teacher to spell correctly?

I can only comment on my own experience and this would not be tolerated by the parents or the head in our case. Our school deviates from national curriculum for spellings too so we receive similar lists - I don’t agree with them rote learning some of the words which are out of context but it’s small enough for me (and other parents I am friendly with) to keep quiet. I have not noticed any errors from any staff teaching my children

When the school went through a spate of spelling, grammatical and date errors in parent communication, multiple complaints were raised and the governors started to investigate. The errors were due to office staff failing to proof-read but the parents complaining were saying the school cannot pride itself on teaching English to a high standard if it is unable to read the content it delivers to parents.

Just saying, it's rarely the "better education" you're paying for when you send your kids to private school. Luckily for them, nepotism and old school tie is still rife, so they'll be fine. 👍🏻

When my sons were little and came home from school with something like that I used to correct it in red pen and send it back

When our DDs were at primary school I ended up having to hide the monthly newsletter from DH because he would get so enraged by the poor SPAG. I virtually had to wrestle a red biro off him the time he decided he was going to correct every mistake and send it back to the school.

You sound bitter and spiteful.

Why on earth aren’t primary teachers with poor SPAG weeded out early in their training and given remedial English?

I know it was ‘fashionable’ among educators in the 70s/80s to say that spelling and grammar didn’t matter any more - it was ‘elitist’ to expect correct spelling, but I’d thought those days had passed.

I used to work in a secondary school and was given the job of checking the reports before they went out to parents (mainly for consistency, so that eg if the child was called Charlie they weren't Charley or Charles). But I would find so many basic spelling errors, and sentences that didn't make sense.

If a private school it may be true, and the dismissive response is more understandable.

Escalate to the head.

Let's hope the peer group you're buying for your child deliver, OP. Because it doesn't sound like the education will. He'll need all the rich friends he can get.

The fact that you are paying money for this is even worse. I wouldn’t consider it acceptable in any school, but in a pre-prep where teachers tend to be paid better and have more time and smaller classes means there is no excuse.

Some people fall into the trap of thinking that private schools are always better. It’s simply not true. Each school should be taken on its own merits, and in your position I would be thinking hard about whether there is a better school for my child - state or private. To be clear I say that largely on the basis of how they have failed to act on your perfectly valid concern/criticism, over and above the spelling errors themselves.

You are paying for this poor level of education? Good grief.

From that paragraph it seems obvious that the "they" are the spellchecker on computers. The poster is correct. They (spellcheckers) are often set to American versions as are ai.

However the spelling lists referred to by OP aren't even Americanisms just incorrect spellings.

I agree

If spelling doesn't matter then why is the school giving spelling tests

I'd talk to the class rep to see if they can escalate it as it impacts on all children

And many children may have parents who aren't native English speakers or have poor literacy so either wouldn't know these are incorrect or would be too scared to challenge

YANBU. Teachers, especially in primary school where the children are learning how to spell (and write in general) need to be able to spell correctly and not make glaring grammatical errors. If they have dyslexia they need to use tools to check spelling and/or get another member of staff to double check.

Definitely complain to the head.

You are NOT one of those parents. I would be horrified since this is ongoing. If the teacher is dyslexic surely she would use a computer for spell check. Talk to the school immediately !

Report it to head of EYFS / year if it happens again.

Omg! When I saw the title of your thread I must admit I thought you were going to be 'that parent' who gets up in arms about an isolated typo. But these are next level. Yanbu.

That’s really shocking and completely unacceptable.

Take photographs of the lists and go to the head. They cannot serious condone anything like this. Apart from anything else, these schools need to be able to show that their pupils move on to good schools, and they'll never pass entrance exams if this is the standard of spelling they are taught.

I work in a state primary, and we have a few teachers who have appalling spelling, but they are aware of it, so they are particularly mindful about double and triple checking their spelling.

I'm a TA and have regularly had teachers ask me how to spell things. It's not ideal, but at least they make the effort to make sure their spellings are correct by asking and checking, etc.

I think you right op it's not a spelling list but showing a writing style. Anyway the words shouldn't be spelt wrong and I'll take to the head. Hope you get it sorted

It’s appalling but years on MN have taught me that apparently expecting teachers to be able to spell is deeply unreasonable.

However - you’re paying for this so you have a voice that will be heard. I would pursue this further as the teacher’s response is completely inadequate.

YANBU I came across far too many teachers like this. One tried to excuse herself by saying she was picking up bad habits from the kids - she was the teacher ffs! It’s the direct result of all those middle class ‘nice’ people on here years ago whining that their darlings couldn’t pass a numeracy or literacy test but ‘would make wonderful teachers’, and those of us who actually have skills to teach being told on placement that we didn’t socialise enough or the placement teacher plain not liking them. The direct result of the gentrification of education and information both and the driving out of the working classes.

I was going to say go to the Head but obviously that's pointless. I would not keep my child there, because of the spelling but more importantly the attitude.

I work in Early Years and I see grammatical errors constantly. It drives me nuts.