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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

SPELLINGS GRRRR

72 replies

Rosefairy · 04/09/2009 15:58

to expect not to have to correct the spelling mistakes in the spelling list issued by the Teacher before my child learns them. They weren't copied incorrectly by her either I checked.

OP posts:
twirlymum · 04/09/2009 16:06

That's terrible!

deaddei · 04/09/2009 16:06

YANBU.
That would really annoy me.
Also homework marked with spellings//punctuation not corrected in big red pen.

thumbwitch · 04/09/2009 16:13

ridiculous!
YAdefNBU - how rubbish is the standard of schooling these days?!

Bodenista · 04/09/2009 16:16

YANBU at all

have had this before and returned with mistakes circled in red

Come to think of it, they probably hate me

tethersend · 04/09/2009 16:27

YANBU. Just out of interest, what were the misspelled words?

Rosefairy · 04/09/2009 17:04

consequently (consquently)
alternatively (altenativilly) I think it may have helped if the Teacher could actually pronounce the words.

OP posts:
Jackstini · 04/09/2009 17:13

That is shocking rf!!

auntyitaly · 04/09/2009 17:14

I'd send the list to the Head - unacceptable, sadly. Good luck, if you can face doing it.

tethersend · 04/09/2009 18:21

Christ on a bike. How embarrassing.

Homebird8 · 04/09/2009 18:40

Definitely have a word with the head. Ask if they are on a program of alternative spellings

fircone · 04/09/2009 18:53

yanbu

But what do you do? I got all steamed up today as there was a notice outside dd's classroom "Can anybody please donate some serial boxes. Thank-you"

Frankly it was the hyphen that made me madder!

KembleTwins · 04/09/2009 18:55

YANBU. There's no excuse for that.

hocuspontas · 04/09/2009 19:32

Not quite the same but in year 5 dd2 had 10 spellings a week and used to copy them down from the board incorrectly but her book was marked with a tick at the bottom of the page implying they were copied correctly. When I mentioned to the teacher that this was misleading the answer was a spluttering - 'do you honestly expect me to check 30 spelling books?' Yep! Or don't tick it...

belgo · 04/09/2009 19:33

'altenativilly' is just painfully embarrassing to read.

WingedVictory · 04/09/2009 23:21

I am going to go MAD if this happens at my child's school - when he goes to school. My brother was diagnosed with dyslexia when he was young, which I accept and I do not say everyone can learn to spell in English, but this and bad grammar really get me worked up.

There are REAL consequences for appearing illiterate. John Humphreys, in "Lost for Words", was most articulate when he pointed out that the theory which swept through education in, I think, the 70s, which did not "privilege" "correct" grammar, actually left many people unable to stand up for themselves with representatives of the law or of medicine, for example. This disarms people, makes them seem uneducated and vulnerable, rather than distributing equality throughout the accents, dialects and classes.

Parents who speak the "correct" "language" of power will of course make sure their children learn that language so that their "word" will be accepted anywhere. But what about those who are taught by people who cannot spell, such as the teacher mentioned by the OP? It's horrible. Does she mangle grammar as well, Rosefairy? [trying to fit her prejudices into the context]

Sorry if I have hijacked the spelling thread a bit, but this literacy business really irks me. I must admit that I am also worried that my language skills will one day no longer be valued, because no-one will recognise them... And one of the things I have to give to my child(ren) will be worthless (and who knows if I'll have anything else to leave him[them])?

Now, I hope to God this post is free of spelling errors, or I will be soooo ashamed ... and rightly so! Thank you for giving space to my rant. Keep our end up, Rosefairy and everyone else!

Pyrocanthus · 05/09/2009 00:11

'consquently' might be a slip, but 'altenativilly' almost deserves points for creativity.

At my DDs' school children mark each other's spelling tests, which takes it to a new level of originality. I always cast an eye over spellings before DDs start to learn them; mostly I'm checking for copying errors, but DD1 once had a teacher whose spelling was very wobbly.

I also check the marked tests, for obvious reasons.

Firawla · 05/09/2009 00:15

Yanbu i would be shocked!!

SOLOisMeredithGrey · 05/09/2009 00:18

Ds once had a teacher that told the class(year 4)that the word 'NEXT' had a silent 'T' and was therefore pronounced 'NEX'. I took it up with the head.

Pyrocanthus · 05/09/2009 00:22

Eek! (All letters pronounced.)

SOLOisMeredithGrey · 05/09/2009 00:22

...and a merit certificate that said '12 HP for reserch on blad de blah...

CheerfulYank · 05/09/2009 00:24

Now I know we Americans can't spell and all but this is flat out ridiculous! Definitely take it up with someone! I work at our elementary school and the kindergarten teacher whose room I was assigned to last year was lovely BUT...she would say, "Oh I haven't saw her yet." It made my head want to explode every time! She was wonderful but I don't know if I'll want my son in her class in a few years!

WingedVictory, that is a very interesting point Mr. Humphreys made! Will look into it further.

thumbwitch · 05/09/2009 00:55

How in heaven's name do these people get jobs teaching? Surely some level of literacy should be a requirement?
Altenativilly - FGS!!

TheFallenMadonna · 05/09/2009 01:01

Interesting. A colleague of mine is dyslexic. She does spell words incorrectly on the board, although she spellchecks her powerpoints. Does that matter? Does it make a difference that we are secondary Science teachers? Genuinely interested in responses. Causes a fair bit of debate in the staff room...

TheFallenMadonna · 05/09/2009 01:01

And, if she weren't dyslexic, or didn't have a diagnosis, would that make a difference?

thumbwitch · 05/09/2009 01:15

if you are not teaching spelling then I don't suppose it matters so much - but if you ARE teaching spelling/English then a basic grasp of dictionary usage, if you are not sure of your abilities, would seem a requisite (dyslexia aside - would many dyslexic teachers want to teach English/spelling? It would seem to be an unnecessary extra burden for them)