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AIBU?

To red pen DD2's school newsletter, and post it back to them?

113 replies

SarahStrattonIsBackForJustABit · 27/07/2013 10:49

Four A4 sides, last page has 11 spelling mistakes alone. I dare not check the other 3 pages, or I will have The Rage.

WIBU to correct it in red pen, and send it back to them?

OP posts:

Report

soapboxqueen · 27/07/2013 15:14

Spelling ability has nothing to do with general intelligence. Being good at spelling generally means you are good at spelling, not that you are incompetent.

I wouldn't send the work back with corrections as it is childish. However, it does no favours for the school's image.

I would email and just state that you noticed a few errors and that it doesn't reflect well on the school to either parents, prospective parents or the community.

edam · 27/07/2013 16:10

If you are intelligent, you can learn to spell. An intelligent person who makes frequent spelling mistakes is either lazy or has a specific learning disability in that area, such as dyslexia. But many people with dyslexia have developed techniques that help them and make far fewer mistakes than lazy people who think spelling just doesn't matter.

(The law of sod suggests I'm bound to have made a mistake in that post...)

MargeSimpsonzzz · 27/07/2013 16:22

Edam, that is priceless! I wish I'd thought of that! Actually, my old boss, he was extremely amiable and basically a really decent guy. But he was a cockney type who left school early and made good. He was very confident despite his lack of education and I wouldn't grudge him that confidence. I got on with him very well. He wanted me to type up a letter he was sending to a private school. He was applying for a place for his son. It was full of mistakes and it was sycophantic about the school, and it hardly mentioned his son. That was the only letter I ever went totally rogue on. I totally re-jigged it completely, and sent it off myself with a forged signature! His son was a nice boy and bright and he got in. I hope it was worth it. what shocking meddling on my part. I can't believe I did that now. Maybe his son hated the place and wishes he'd gone to a comprehensive.

MargeSimpsonzzz · 27/07/2013 16:29

My brother had dyslexia and he couldn't read until he was 11. Then one day he picked up The Hobbit and read it cover to cover. Now, in his 40s, his spelling is excellent, I have never seen him make a mistake.

Male good spellers are not as good as female good spellers in my experience. But that is jme. Words like rapport which are obviously from another language might catch out otherwise good spellers.

treacleturkey · 27/07/2013 17:23

Agree with Estelle; two secretaries I know have fabulous English compared to their newly-out-of-college NQT teachers who don't seem to have a clue!
When I was doing supply for a History teacher who was ill, I was so tempted to remove several of her posters with appalling English, it made my fingers itch all day!

Scholes34 · 27/07/2013 17:36

The person who signs off the letter is ultimately responsible for its content . . . and you'd hope the Head would have recruited a secretary who could proof-read and produce a piece of work with no mistakes.

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 27/07/2013 18:55

I wouldn't be impressed. Smacks of sloppiness and if you're going to be sloppy about something that is going to be sent out to the wider school community, what are standards like within?

Mammagaga · 27/07/2013 19:05

Oooohhhhh do it!!! My kids school newsletters are the same I've always wanted to do it but never got round to it!!! What hope do the children have!!

HollyBerryBush · 27/07/2013 19:09

It's probably down to some secretary

patronising much?

Its usually the office that has to correct the teachers.

alistron1 · 27/07/2013 19:12

I'm the 'some secretary' who writes a school newsletter (actually, there are no such things as secretary's in schools - there are finance officers, business managers and office staff)

I have my newsletter proof read by two people, but it's amazing how easily an erroneous apostrophe/omission or a random spell check correction can be missed.

I've had parents point out mistakes to me, and I thank them for it.

Eyesunderarock · 27/07/2013 19:18

LOL
Random apostrophes indeed.

SarahStrattonIsBackForJustABit · 27/07/2013 19:19

We still have school secretaries. We also have a school nurse, based full time at the school. I've picked DD up from her office, when she'd just gone back after Whooping Cough, and was struggling. There's even two little beds in there.

OP posts:

Eyesunderarock · 27/07/2013 19:21

It is why I have my reports read by two other people, despite my having a high standard of written English. It's easy to miss something.
I also take correction gracefully, if by a child, they get a merit mark as well as a 'Thank you'.

SarahStrattonIsBackForJustABit · 27/07/2013 19:23

That's nice, and confidence giving, too.

OP posts:

BackforGood · 27/07/2013 19:25

I'm generally a 'live and let live' person, and get very cross when people are critical of spellings / typos on a chat forum such as this, but a written document being sent out from the school, needs to be correct.
I do think I'd bring it to the attention of someone at the school, because I think it reflects badly on the school. not sure about the red pen bit though.

imnotmymum · 27/07/2013 19:26

Seriously. It is the Summer holidays ...

BackforGood · 27/07/2013 19:26

I agree Alistron it's easy for the odd error to slip through, but I think the OP's newsletter is a lot different from that.

SarahStrattonIsBackForJustABit · 27/07/2013 19:28

WTF has that got to do with anything?

OP posts:

apostropheuse · 27/07/2013 19:29

I'm the 'some secretary' who writes a school newsletter (actually, there are no such things as secretary's in schools - there are finance officers, business managers and office staff)

I have my newsletter proof read by two people, but it's amazing how easily an erroneous apostrophe/omission or a random spell check correction can be missed.

... and you've just proved your point beautifully with your use of secretary's.

imnotmymum · 27/07/2013 19:30

Not sure where that is headed but if the Summer hols then ...seriously just chill. If your kids are doing well and are getting their targets or beyond then spend six weeks with them not worrying about a newsletter

SarahStrattonIsBackForJustABit · 27/07/2013 19:35

Err, I'm not worried in the slightest, DD is Y11, and perfectly capable of spelling correctly. I'm still allowed to be annoyed at the sloppiness of the thing.

OP posts:

BackforGood · 27/07/2013 19:36

It's the sort of thing I would mention at a Parent's Forum type situation.... "er, I'm not sure who sees these in school before they get sent home, but are you aware they are going out with about a dozen spelling mistakes per page?" type comment.
The staff would probably be horrified, but really pleased they now know and can do something about it, rather than finding out months or years down the line that it's been happening for a long time.

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imnotmymum · 27/07/2013 19:36

Yes you are Sarah.

LadyIsabellaWrotham · 27/07/2013 19:36

Don't red pen it, you'll look like an arse, and Sod's law guarantees you'll make a mistake (your rogue apostrophe upthread is left as an exercise for the reader ). But do point it out. I had to beg the school receptionist three times to change the sign in the office wishing them all a "successfull" term.

imnotmymum · 27/07/2013 19:37

you'll look like an arse

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