AIBU to expect my child's Year 1 teacher to spell correctly?

[PerkyShark]

DD is 5 and currently in Year 1. Every Monday, we get a new spelling list for a test on Friday, which I think is a great idea in theory. However, nearly every week there seems to be a glaring spelling mistake on the list.

A couple of weeks ago, "tarpoon" appeared instead of "harpoon." Last week, we had "Artic" instead of "Arctic." I brushed these off initially, but this week, THREE words are incorrect: "micture" (mixture), "nuture" (nature), and "murcury" (mercury).

I approached DD's class teacher politely to point this out, assuming she'd be mortified and promise to ensure it wouldn't happen again, but instead she shrugged it off, saying "human error is to be expected."

I'm also starting to worry, as these spelling lists are the only written examples I see regularly. It makes me question whether the teacher is consistently spelling things incorrectly during lessons or, even worse, not picking up on spelling mistakes my child might be making in her work.

AIBU to think that consistently misspelling words on weekly spelling lists undermines the purpose of the tests and possibly the children's learning? Or am I just being overly precious about something that doesn't really matter?

Sounds like you're wasting your money, OP.

You are not being unreasonable, but this happens in so many schools. My son's TA in yr 4 wrote that she enjoyed " whatching" the sea. It was in her handwriting and printed out for the whole class. The teachers weren't much better. Newsletters often caused raised eyebrows. 😬🤣.

You are DEFINITELY NOT being unreasonable in the slightest. Spelling mistakes on a spelling list are an absolute disgrace.

She can't make multiple spelling errors on the spelling list! Potentially kids will actually know the correct spelling, relearn the wrong one and then get it marked correctly. It makes the whole thing worse than useless! I would be taking this further, given that the teacher isn't bothered.

Is the handwriting clear enough that it's definitely not that that's unclear rather than the intended spelling? I can see how a badly written 'mixture' could look like 'micture', for instance. Not that that's really any better!

This would be appalling in any circumstances but the fact that you are paying for it makes it even worse.

I would go to the head.

This is a fair comment and an opinion I am starting to have. To compound the problem this teacher is actually the Head of the Pre-prep!

I would be raising this with the head and then governors if no action taken with the clear intention of withdrawing my child. Not a chance I’m paying for the privilege of my children being taught incorrect spellings!

Are other parents not fuming about this? Parents of others in my children’s class are generally laid back (thankfully!) but this is something they would not accept under any circumstances

I did a few weeks' voluntary work in a secondary school admin office a while ago.

I had to print off copies of a booklet for the English department. It contained a list of about 40 books, and on that list I found 19 errors (in author name, book title, general spelling errors). Appalling sloppiness :-(

I was going to say go to the Head but obviously that's pointless. I would not keep my child there, because of the spelling but more importantly the attitude.

I work in Early Years and I see grammatical errors constantly. It drives me nuts.

YANBU I came across far too many teachers like this. One tried to excuse herself by saying she was picking up bad habits from the kids - she was the teacher ffs! It’s the direct result of all those middle class ‘nice’ people on here years ago whining that their darlings couldn’t pass a numeracy or literacy test but ‘would make wonderful teachers’, and those of us who actually have skills to teach being told on placement that we didn’t socialise enough or the placement teacher plain not liking them. The direct result of the gentrification of education and information both and the driving out of the working classes.

This is what surprises me! All the other parents seem thrilled about the school. One of the children in our class is the DD of the head of the junior school (year 3 to year 8). This is one of the reason I came on here to ask if I was being unreasonable or not as I get the vibe everyone else thinks I am "one of those parents."

It’s appalling but years on MN have taught me that apparently expecting teachers to be able to spell is deeply unreasonable.

However - you’re paying for this so you have a voice that will be heard. I would pursue this further as the teacher’s response is completely inadequate.

I think you right op it's not a spelling list but showing a writing style. Anyway the words shouldn't be spelt wrong and I'll take to the head. Hope you get it sorted

I work in a state primary, and we have a few teachers who have appalling spelling, but they are aware of it, so they are particularly mindful about double and triple checking their spelling.

I'm a TA and have regularly had teachers ask me how to spell things. It's not ideal, but at least they make the effort to make sure their spellings are correct by asking and checking, etc.

Take photographs of the lists and go to the head. They cannot serious condone anything like this. Apart from anything else, these schools need to be able to show that their pupils move on to good schools, and they'll never pass entrance exams if this is the standard of spelling they are taught.

That’s really shocking and completely unacceptable.

Omg! When I saw the title of your thread I must admit I thought you were going to be 'that parent' who gets up in arms about an isolated typo. But these are next level. Yanbu.

Report it to head of EYFS / year if it happens again.

You are NOT one of those parents. I would be horrified since this is ongoing. If the teacher is dyslexic surely she would use a computer for spell check. Talk to the school immediately !

YANBU. Teachers, especially in primary school where the children are learning how to spell (and write in general) need to be able to spell correctly and not make glaring grammatical errors. If they have dyslexia they need to use tools to check spelling and/or get another member of staff to double check.

Definitely complain to the head.

I agree

If spelling doesn't matter then why is the school giving spelling tests

I'd talk to the class rep to see if they can escalate it as it impacts on all children

And many children may have parents who aren't native English speakers or have poor literacy so either wouldn't know these are incorrect or would be too scared to challenge

From that paragraph it seems obvious that the "they" are the spellchecker on computers. The poster is correct. They (spellcheckers) are often set to American versions as are ai.

However the spelling lists referred to by OP aren't even Americanisms just incorrect spellings.

You are paying for this poor level of education? Good grief.

The fact that you are paying money for this is even worse. I wouldn’t consider it acceptable in any school, but in a pre-prep where teachers tend to be paid better and have more time and smaller classes means there is no excuse.

Some people fall into the trap of thinking that private schools are always better. It’s simply not true. Each school should be taken on its own merits, and in your position I would be thinking hard about whether there is a better school for my child - state or private. To be clear I say that largely on the basis of how they have failed to act on your perfectly valid concern/criticism, over and above the spelling errors themselves.