To expect a teacher to string a coherent sentence together ?

[80sbabe]

Dd 1 (year 3) came home last night with homework for a class history project.

They have been asked to choose a historical figure and put together a fact file on them including the following information :
"How were there family?"

What on earth is that supposed to mean ?

Now I appreciate I am a bit of a pedant, and I've already had words with this teacher before about spelling mistakes and grammatical errors in reports and homework comments.

However, this one is beyond me, being as it is utter nonsense.

AIBU to expect to be able to understand what information the teacher is requiring and for that teacher to check instructions before sending them home ?

YABU but see the Head this time.

Sorry, mean YANBU lol.

I am a teacher, and I don't know what is being asked! Is it asking about the health of the family, otherwise it should be 'How were their family'... treated?

Oh, I and I think YANBU.

oh dear:-((

bad, very bad.

I would read it as "Who were their family?" but still an awful sentence - see the head, definitely!!

YANBU. The number of threads regarding appalling teacher standards on MN is shocking. I know teachers can't be expected to be perfect but they should have a decent level of written communication.

Sorry about 'treated'
Couldn't think of another word that would even go with that sentence!

this is shocking - perhaps you should send a copy to the head asking for their comments

YANBU at all.

That is awful. In fact I think my blood pressure has risen slightly with the knowledge that there are teachers out there who do this.

but, hey probably a typo. Surely? But on homework task. I'd see her and head.

I did wonder if seeing the head was taking it a bit far, but I do worry that if the teacher cannot spell and correctly construct sentences then how is she ever going to teach my daughter to do so?

I have often wondered if it's just me being an old fashioned bore so I thought I'd better canvass some opinion on here before I go any further

Justkeepingheadabovewater said : "Is it asking about the health of the family, otherwise it should be 'How were their family'... treated?"

Exactly my point - I have no idea if it means dd needs to research the health and well being of this person's family or if it is asking "who" were their family? and requesting her to research the family dynamics.

This particular teacher does seem to struggle with their / there; you're / your; where / wear etc...

Seeing the Head isn't taking it too far if this is not a one off.

I saw the Head about my son's homework sheet. The kids had to describe their favourite toy and one of the questions was "How old was you when you got this toy?"

Remember, it's the HT who does the teaching reviews and if this is not a one off...then he or she should know about this.

I took it to mean, 'What were their family like?'
What does your dd think the teacher wants?
Scary people like this teach.

I read threads in another forum. The most badly spelled, punctuated and written posts are those from a secondary school teacher. Her abuse of the English language is terrible to see.

She doesn't use paragraphs either, which makes most of what she writes not only unintelligible but bloody hard work to read too.

I would at least tell the teacher that your daughter couldn't do the homework as the question made no sense, which it doesn't.

So it's an ongoing regular thing? Def see head. Just be nice about it!

If this is recurrent go to see the Head.

"This particular teacher does seem to struggle with their / there; you're / your; where / wear etc..."
How old is this Teacher? 6?

We received an accident sheet on Friday which stated DS "lost a tidgey bit of blood" FFS tidgey

This is following on from his spelling of "trampoline" being corrected to "tramperline". It defies belief.

Get it sorted out

this does make me cross. They need to be guardians of our language. the pedantiest of pedants!

my few friends who are teachers seem to be the least well-read, have the least general knowledge, and are confused by some ridiculous things - just glad they won't teach my kids!

I think that if it was a one off I would guess it was just a silly mistake but if this teacher is a repeat offender then I would def go to the head about it. This is simple stuff - its not like she is trying to explain the theory of relativity or quantum physics is it?!!

Whether or not it is WHO or HOW , family is singular. Therefore the correct reading should be

WHO WAS /HOW WAS THE FAMILY xyz.

So there.