.. 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?

Yesterday at an open evening for DD1s pre-school. The preschool manager said 'Pacific' at least three times during a presentation to parents when she meant 'specific'. Drove me nuts.

I would not want regular spelling/grammar mistakes, but everyone is human.

I don't think you are being unreasonable - riddled with mistakes suggests poor grammar and spelling, but also a lack of care. Something being sent out to parents should always be checked thoroughly, it damages the reputation of the whole school when things like this happen.

It is worth considering that although this teacher is currently in EYFS, a teacher at my school has just made the move from Foundation Stage to Year 4. If her spelling and grammar were weak, it definitely would have an impact. I think it does need to be raised, perhaps with a parent governor who will take it further for you...I have known parents send letters back in to school, marked, in red pen!

YANBU

DD brought home her Star Of The Week certificate a few weeks into Reception for doing "Super independant writing". I resisted the temptation to point out the mistake when DD's teacher came over to tell me how well DD had been doing

DS1's Y1 teacher sent home a sheet of topic related words to learn as spellings. Before DS1 had even got to his bag to put it away, he had spotted the glaring error (to a 5yo!) of 'seeside' for 'seaside'.

When he put his hand up and told her, obviously the whole class heard. Rather than take back the sheets and correct them, she sent DS1 to the HT's office for 'rudeness'. Simply because he had pointed out a mistake.

DS1's argument was that how would the other DC that didn't know how to spell that word already meant to be taught to spell it correctly by using a sheet with an error on it, and that he only put his hand up to tell the teacher because he felt she should know.

The HT told him off, and said that he should have waited until after class and spoken to the teacher in private, so as not to embarrass her. How many 5yo's would do anything other than put their hand up and tell the teacher?

If a teacher is that embarrassed to have spelling mistakes pointed out to her in front of the class, then maybe she should consider using a spellchecker facility on her computer?!

(Which DS1 did point out as a possibility for the future...)

It shocks me to see how awful some teacher's spelling and grammar is. I don't profess to be perfect, but then I'm not teaching the next generation, am I?

And the way that some teachers react to having their spelling corrected by a child is frankly shameful.

I have never sent a 'corrected' letter back into the school, oh no, not me, never...

OP - YAmostdefinitelyNBU.

There is no excuse. I don't care what age group she is teaching. Teachers often move around year groups anyway, so if a HT decides she wants her in Year 6, then Year 6 she will teach.
So correct spelling and grammar in any form of documentation is very important. Same for wall displays.

And any booklet/leaflet/prospectus should always be proof-read. Preferably by at least two people.

Correct it and send it in to the HT...

if you can ensure the teacher is well-rested, refreshed and undisturbed when writing, i'm sure spg will improve.

thornbury yes I'm aware that teachers usually have A-levels, a degree and postgrad qualifications. But English and Maths won't necessarily have been studied since GCSE.

I wasn't aware there are additional literacy and numeracy tests for teaching applicants these days - that's interesting. In that case, what do you think is the reason why quite a few teachers don't seem to be at a good enough level with their own literacy and numeracy? Is the standard of those additional tests too low, do you think? Or is there some other reason?

It's shocking. DS had a teacher who insisted on saying "haitch". DS (aged 6) corrected her - and was made to stay in at playtime for his rudeness. I went ballistic. Surely teachers should know how to pronounce the letters of the alphabet FFS.

I daresay it's perfectly possible to get an A at GCSE English without what I would consider good basic English; therefore it's certainly possible to get a C, which is the requirement for teachers.

Equally you can have a great command of English but be rubbish at passing exams, and not scrape a C in anything.

I wonder if spelling (etc) ability is actually innate. Some people just can, and some people really struggle.

olive, the tests clearly weren't fit for purpose, as the govt has revamped them here.

Also, anecdotally I know some very good teachers (secondary science teachers, mostly) whose command of written English is dreadful. But at least they have the self-awareness to get important documents proof-read, use a spell-checker, look things up, and so on.

Thanks thornbury, that's interesting and I've clicked through on the link... I see they have some "practice tests" so might have a go out of curiosity!

YANBU. Whatever the teacher's grasp of grammar, it should have been proofread before being given out to parents as it reflects badly on the school.

@ BorisJohnsonsHair DS, good on him

YANBU.

DD's teacher told her that 'of' and 'off' meant exactly the same thing.

Sadly the mistakes on the display boards (assuming they are written by the teacher not by children) will be just that - mistakes. I wouldn't correct young children's work to the nth degree as I think it is important that you value what they can do rather than undermine them by constantly pointing out where they're going wrong. (within reason, and I'm talking 3-4-5 year olds)
However anything the teacher puts on display should be correct, she certainly shouldn't be deliberately leaving out apostrophes just because her class haven't covered them yet.

Yes, it is a cause for concern. I don't know what you can do about it other than watching it like a hawk and correcting him which will sometimes mean you have no choice but to correct her. That won't make you very popular but popularity isn't always the most important thing.

I always find it amusing and irritating in equal measure that the people who're keenest to insist on good spelling/grammar can't seem to manage the same for themselves!

Waves at LRD. We've spoken about this before

I always like the following saying:

Grammar is the difference between knowing your shit, and knowing you're shit.

My point of view is that I am not an expert in grammar so if an error is bad enough for me to spot it must be very bad.

As part of the efforts to improve my DD's school, the new headteacher made all the teaching assistants who didn't have a GSCE or equivalent in English and Maths do a course and test in literacy and numeracy - those who refused or failed have been sacked sorry "managed" on from the school.

I therefore feel justified in pointing out to DD's teacher - who is part of the senior leadership team and in charge of literacy of the great big spelling error on a recent letter home. Cue grovelling apology and an explanation that the letter had been done when the teacher was really tired. Nothing wrong with using spell check though, is there?

YANBU. I would complain to the Head Teacher. Good spelling and grammar should be second nature to anyone making a career in teaching. Otherwise, its simply a way to teach your child how to spell badly, and that it is acceptable.

anyone can make a mistake, we all do and informal writing such as emails, forum chat aren't very important to me; however if presentation work such as displays, corrections of dc's work, letters home, school brochures etc are riddled with errors, I think that shows more than an oversight due to tiredness or overwork. It seems to me that the basic knowledge of how to use and spell English is just not there. That is worrying at a school IMO. I really don't see how you can get around that. It is not nice extra. It is fairly fundamental since I don't see how you can teach what you don't know.

Before children, I was a biology teacher. I do have problems with my spelling, and I know that my punctuation and grammar are not top notch. The pupils I taught knew this, and would be happy to pick up any mistakes I made on the board, (funny my spelling of long science terminology is pretty good, but basic 'ordinary' spelling is dreadful). I used to be totally anal about checking things that went to parents, everything was done on computer so that I could spell check it. There really isn't any excuse for displays, booklets etc to have mistakes. My daughters school this week spelled her name wrong on the programme for the school play. There are only 45 kids in the WHOLE school, she has been there (including nursery) for 4 years, and it wasn't the only kids name to be incorrect..... I was appalled.