We Need More English Teachers

[nomdegrrr1]

Headline in The Mirror - 'Jeremy Vine posts terrifying video of Jason Donovan almost being hit by a bus on a bike'.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/jeremy-vine-posts-terrifying-video-31272132

Buses don't ride bikes. Would it have been too hard to put ' Jason Donovan almost hit by bus while (or whilst) riding a bike' ?

It's a national newspaper. Surely it's not hard to have a quick scan before pressing post. People are getting paid to write this.

Suggestions about wording welcome.

Perhaps it was just me then. My education up to age 13 was extremely sketchy and it's only a change of high school that even gave me a chance. I had to pick up stuff like grammar and syntax from reading - including newspapers.

And even though my English is far from perfect, I still can re-read something before posting for a quick sense check. I think that's what I'm frustrated about. The person who wrote that headline will have some sort of qualification which meant that they had a chance to learn this stuff. They get paid for it.

In the grand scheme of things, it's not a biggie, but communicating effectively is important.

I was at secondary school in the 70's and we certainly were taught grammar. How much of it stuck is another matter.

I went to secondary school in the 80s. I learned loads about grammar, but only in French, German and Latin lessons!

I'm deeply envious. I sank without a trace when it came to French grammar. I loved French and wanted to do it at university but I couldn't reach the standard - I got the highest A level grade in the class, which was a D.

I tried to get a Latin class, but the teacher was too interested in telling us about his drug experience and German wasn't possible - I managed to start lessons in my first high school but had barely got past the colours when I transferred in the third year so had to abandon that.

I guess this is why I'm not so against SATs if done properly. If the schools had been tested and held to account when I was there, I may have had a different set of options.

I'm not keen on the current school testing. It's a few years ago, but I remember my son's primary school did yoga before all the tests and had sweeties and drinks for afterwards. The atmosphere in the school was one of incipient nervous collapse. That is not something that helps the kids.