.. to expect perfect spelling, punctuation and grammar from YR teacher?

[LLJ4]

Briefly:

DS1 starts in Reception in September. We have had a little booklet from his new teacher giving information about the structure of the school day, uniform, food rules, etc.

It is simply riddled with simple punctuation errors and poor grammar and style. I am particularly angsty about this as I was a subeditor in a previous life, so I am genuinely wondering if I am overreacting, since it is EYFS and the children will be unaffected.

AIBU? or should we be able to expect flawless written material from teachers?

Teachers haven't got time to proof read every tiny thing. So long as children are taught correctly, I wouldn't be too bothered at reception age.

So long as the teacher can do phonics and maths and can impart their knowledge to the class, I don't see a problem.

As an ex-subeditor, too, I would say YANBU. I'd have serious doubts about a teacher that couldn't spell or punctuate or use proper grammar. It's really important to get these things right at the start of a child's school life, because if the building blocks are wrong, it's not a good learning environment.

On the other hand, my DS's 5th year art teacher can't spell, but that's fine - she's great at teaching him art and he's had 12 years at school so he knows how to spell.
YANBU, but I don't know what your next step should be.

YABU to expect perfect s&g.

YANBU to be concerned about a booklet riddled with mistakes.

As I expected, mixed responses already.

The classroom displays were similarly bad, but I don't know if it might be early-literacy policy not to use apostrophes at all - maybe they are introduced later, and omitted until then to avoid confusion.

YANBU - the odd typo is acceptable for a teacher (we're only human!) but the basics should be perfect. I sometimes spell words wrongly on the board as I write and talk and it confuses me, but I always happily accept corrections from students or look words up in the dictionary if I'm unsure.

You aren't me are you Euphemia

Sarcophagus is rather unforgiveable because it's the sort of word you would check isn't it?
If it's an unusual word you don't use every day then check it out!!

YANBU. I'd be looking for an alternative school.

It's appalling, YANBU.

Send it back with the errors marked. My issue is the increased use in speech of 'could of', how are the the children meant to learn what is right unless by example?

However you will identify yourself as a difficult parent, most teachers react very badly to criticism!

Perfect is a bit OTT for that age group. We're not talking A Level English.

But 'riddled with basic mistakes' is worrying.

I agree with Euphemia. I'm not saying I'm perfect but if I'm not sure I check, particularly with stuff that is going home.

It is appalling. You are definitely not being unreasonable.
I'd be a little worried, personally, they were to be responsible for teaching my child, even the basics.

Mayaswell - I would not react badly if a mistake was pointed out to me, when students do this I am pleased that they have noticed!

Publications that go out to parents provide a picture of the school. YANBU to expect them to be properly proof read.

What would concern me is not that the teacher can't spell or punctuate properly first time but rather that she either isn't aware of that fact or she is and still doesn't proof read or get someone else to proof read for her. That sloppiness really concerns me in a teacher. Knowing that a docunent is going to parents, knowing your own writing sometimes contains inaccuracies, what would lead you not to have the document checked very carefully?

YANBU. If there are mistakes in everything she does, including displays and publications to parents, she is clearly not literate enough to be a teacher.

I am normally the first one pointing out that teachers make typos like everyone else does, and saying that you cannot mark it and send it back as this is incredibly rude etc etc. But I mean the occasional mistake, not repeated errors.

How do you know the teacher wrote it. It may have been someone else

whoever wrote it should have proof read it

I may already be marked down as an awkward cow parent as a result of my answer to the question "What is the child's religion?" on the contact details form...

I think I can tolerate dodgy English in YR but once DS can actually read and write I will be a bit more militant assertive about asking if there is a policy decision involved, or if it is "just" a mistake.

I firmly believe that we learn far more about writing from reading than from being taught to write, so I don't feel unreasonable to insist on quality reading material!

I know she wrote it because she said so at the parents' meeting where they were distributed.

I had the same mental twitch when a display at pre-school read "Who's Jubilee Is It?" but since DS can't read yet I didn't mention it.

YA ABSOLUTELY NBU. sorry for shouting!

I am known for my red pen. I do send it back, corrected.

Oh my goodness at "who's jubilee?" doesn't matter if they can't read yet. I'd be appalled and would have to correct them