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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think teachers should be able to spell?

54 replies

BeeRayKay · 30/09/2015 17:06

So twice in 7 days I've noticed pretty major spelling mistakes on some things sent home from school

My friends little boy got a certificate for something with the main word being spelt so incorrectly neither me, her or the TA could work out what it was (turns out it was reciprocal)

And today my DD got sent home with an accident slip with her name spelt wrong on it.

Getting the first letter wrong I can understand (substitute the J for a G fine) but this wasn't even her flaming name. My DD is not called Jon(restofname).

This is after her coming home from school with the outdated surname on her school books. Which really annoyed me and uspet me, she's been at this school for 2 years and changed her surname at the start of LAST year, and they got all the official paperwork.

I know it seems trivial, but these people are teaching infant school, surely these are stupid errors? AIBU to be pissed off? And even more U if I contact the school about it?

OP posts:
OurBlanche · 30/09/2015 17:12

Surname needs to be dealt with.

reciprocal... was it handwritten? Mine used to be impenetrable. But teachers should know better than to use word they aren't sure of.

By the way, you missed and apostrophe and used 'me' where you should have used 'I' Smile

BetweenTwoLungs · 30/09/2015 17:12

Did the teacher do the accident slip? TAs do all of ours.

Yes they should have got your last name correct but I am sure it was a completely innocent mistake - an old class list being passed on.

Pick your battles would be my advice.

OurBlanche · 30/09/2015 17:13

And I left that erroneous 'd' in just for the feeling of confederacy Grin

Lelania · 30/09/2015 17:35

I think I have probably made more than two spelling mistakes in the past 7 days ...

Teachers really don't get cut much slack these days!

green18 · 30/09/2015 17:55

Accident slips might be written by a first aider who does not work in your child's class and has to care for ALL pupils(could be up to 400) Asking a 5/6/7 year old what their name is is interesting and necessary in September as it takes a while to learn names. Some don't know how to spell it or even know their surname. The purpose of the slip is to make sure parents know about a potential concussion etc. not to act as a data record. Mistakes happen, the slip must have got mixed up with another child's. I'm sure it's a one off. ourblanche lol

catfordbetty · 30/09/2015 18:44

This is outrageous. Forget complaining to the school - write to your MP.

JessicaFletchersEyes · 30/09/2015 18:53

Poor old teachers are getting a lot of this recently. Nobody's infallible.

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/09/2015 20:18

And I left that erroneous 'd' in just for the feeling of confederacy I love you.

ghostyslovesheep · 30/09/2015 20:23

kill them

GrizzlebertGrumbledink · 30/09/2015 20:38

A friend of mine is a brilliant teacher and was recently called outstanding by offsets, she really cares about her students and is generally fab. She also has dyslexia which I think is unfortunate in so far as it makes her job harder and she does make mistakes in front of the kids, but what an inspiration for the dyslexic students in her class to see how she deals with it

SummerHouse · 30/09/2015 20:40

I honestly don't think that should be a deal breaker. There are so many more important things.

SummerHouse · 30/09/2015 20:42

Perfect post from grizzel

rollonthesummer · 30/09/2015 20:46

As a teacher, I've never written a first aid slip in my life; the office or the TAs do it.

Perhaps you are not aware that teachers are currently leaving the profession in droves-it's generally the good, conscientious ones who have had enough of the paperwork, bureaucracy and being blamed for all the ills of society. It's only going to get worse in my opinion-I'm off as soon as I can.

JessicaFletchersEyes · 30/09/2015 20:47

Snort :@ 'grizzel' Norty Summer Grin

lushaliciousbob · 30/09/2015 21:18

This isn't really about simple spelling mistakes though is it? Gosh cut the teacher some slack.

mrstweefromtweesville · 30/09/2015 21:20

Teacher, retired. Just spelt 'queen' q-w-e-e-n.
Not even ashamed.

SummerHouse · 30/09/2015 21:23

I really did think grizzle posted the very best argument for why spelling is not important. It was a great post I don't want anyone to think I was being sarcastic because I wasn't.

Trickydecision · 30/09/2015 21:36

If you contact the school in writing to complain about the teacher's spelling, you are going to look a bit ridiculous if your letter contains as many errors of grammar and punctuation as did your OP. Maybe you would be wise to stick to oral contact.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 30/09/2015 21:55

If the incident that required the accident book, it's likely that the person who filled in the form was a midday supervisor or a another member of support staff. If it was a member of support staff, not attached to the class, I wouldn't be surprised that she got it wrong.

If you wish to take it further, you might need to find out the circumstances, in case it wasn't the teacher

Bolograph · 30/09/2015 22:37

the main word being spelt so incorrectly neither me, her or the TA

You mean the main word being spelt so incorrectly neither I, she or the TA.

Motes and beams.

Bolograph · 30/09/2015 22:38

And that's before we get into neither being more correctly followed with nor, not or.

QueenofLouisiana · 30/09/2015 23:03

I'm pretty sure I spelled extension wrongly yesterday. It was 9.30pm
and I'd marked 60 books since I finished taking an after-school club that afternoon.

Perhaps I should leave the profession as clearly my efforts aren't good enough- I'm sure a succession of temporary teachers who wouldn't do parents evenings, or take clubs, or write reports or follow through referrals or build a relationship with your child will do a far better job. If they deign to mark the books you may be able to assess their spelling. I don't expect people to tell me it's amazing that I do all that- it's my job, but I'd hate to think every mistake was scrutinised in this way.

JohnCusacksWife · 30/09/2015 23:08

Leaving aside the accident slip, which won't have been written by a teacher, I'm with you OP. Teachers should be able to spell. Not quite sure how they can teach children to spell if they can't do so themselves.

GrizzlebertGrumbledink · 30/09/2015 23:30

Aw, thank you sommerhows Grin

GrizzlebertGrumbledink · 30/09/2015 23:36

I wouldn't be shocked if a PE teacher couldn't talk to me about the Spanish Armada or if the maths teacher wasn't very good at French. I agree it would be idea if we were all experts at everything but I really think we need to give teachers a break after all no one else will put up with the little shits

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