Should I correct a teacher?

[Sadgirlonatrain]

In my son's recent geography homework, one of the questions on the sheet referred to the decline of coal mining in the North East.

"How would this of effected the area?"

No wonder the use of 'would of' is so widespread now, never mind the incorrect use of 'effected.'

Would you say anything to the school?

We had a letter home from high school yesterday with the wrong use of "their". I let that go and I would let effected go but I couldn't overlook would of or could of. I'd have to say something, it's just too bad.

I'd happily underline it in a colour so that the teacher would notice it. I definitely don't think it is a big deal. Teachers are normal people who make mistakes and it is good for children to see that. Fear of making a mistake holds children back far more than a mistake itself.

One error is bad enough but two errors in a sentence consisting of only seven words is appalling.

I'm a geography teacher and she should really known the difference between affect and effect as we use these terms commonly in geography. The use of would of often down to regional dialect and whilst it is incorrect it would irk me less than effected.

The point being that it's a mistake that everyone/anyone can make.

Sure, kick up a fuss but what is most likely to happen is the teacher will roll his/her eyes at it and carry on regardless.

Being dyslexic is no excuse whatsoever for being a teacher who teaches incorrect spelling to children.

That’s shocking. I’d definitely say something - probably to the head, not the specific teacher, and hope to goodness they don’t come back with, ‘Well, these things don’t really matter any more, do they?’
Yes they do!

I think I’d correct it in red pen on the worksheet, too. I did that once on my own appraisal sheet at work, some very basic mistake.

I’m a teacher . Correct them. This is egregious! They’re not fit to teach.

Polite message to the teacher. Literacy is a whole school issue and teachers need to model it. If you word it carefully they’ll probably be grateful.

I would and I have done in the past. I'm a teacher, yes in a MN despised state secondary school, but I'm far from illiterate. When my DC brought home a letter from their primary school that had spelling and grammar mistakes, I corrected it in red and sent it back. That Headteacher thanked me for being honest and actually pointing out the errors, rather than simply grousing about them.

In my current school, a former Head had form for sending out emails with poor spelling and grammar. His PA despaired; she would always ensure that letters or emails which were sent out via her were correct, but sometimes he got over-excited and would then have to recall them. If spelling and grammar are not your strengths, ask someone else to proof-read your work. It's not a sign of weakness, rather it's a recognition of your limitations. I proofread a letter from my HoD yesterday. It was full of typos and clumsy expression. She was really grateful when I (politely) rephrased them.

Definitely complain and copy in the teacher's superior. There is no excuse for getting these fundamentals wrong.

I would complain about the misuse of 'of', else this teacher is going to keep making the same mistake. The effected/affected thing, I would let go simply because it's less common and more difficult to remember. I tell people that the rule of thumb - which is by no means an absolute - is that affect is a verb and effect is a noun. I know that effect can be a verb and affect a noun but they are very rarely used that way.

Wouldn’t bother and probably use it as an extra learning experience for my child to spot the “deliberate mistake”

I'd probably leave it - but then I corrected my dc at home when they made errors and still do (aged 18 and 20)

Agreed.

Yes OP please raise it. Pretty shocking.

I would and have done....

“Up their game” what if your DC made this mistake as an adult?

And there should be a comma there....oops

I'm torn between saying write a totally straight-faced email saying 'unfortunately the homework sheet contained the following errors' and being PA and saying breezily 'spotted a couple of typos in the homework sheet, just to let you know!' (and maybe not saying what they were but letting the teacher/HoY (hopefully...) go through it and spot them.

Of course it's fine to point it out, most people let a very occasional mistake slip by.

No I wouldn't esp if in NE as regional dialect

Yes, l would. This is basic English. Unless it's been incorrectly auto corrected, how can you expect children to be taught grammar if this is what they're being given to work from?

I think dyslexic teachers are an asset on the whole (if that is what this error is attributed to), but as another poster pointed out it is best to get your stuff checked if this is a weak spot.

(I have a dyslexic dd and overall would like people to be more accepting of spelling errors and grammatical mistakes)

What do you mean? I wouldn’t expect them to be a teacher who teaches wrong spellings to their pupils. I would expect them to proof read their work or do another job where spelling and grammar don’t matter.

Tell the school that the lazy mare/muppet needs to up their game and prepare work properly.

The teacher made an error. This is just extremely unpleasant and far, far worse than any mistake could be.