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Original poster

What do you think about a Headteacher that is always making spelling mistakes?

27 replies

RTKangaMummy · 02/02/2009 20:31

This is what was put in bold letters on the website

"School is closed today due to the sevear weather."

DO you think less of the school or the Headteacher or do you think someone should be brave enough to tell her to stop writing to parents or on the website before getting it checked?

She may be dyslexic but should she still get it checked by her staff or spellcheck or look up in one of those special spelling dictionaries for dyslexics

?

?

OP posts:
scienceteacher · 02/02/2009 20:32

I would be surprised by this. If she is dyslexic, she may not have had her support structure in place today.

I wouldn't read to much into it. I would let her personality and leadership style trump her written communication.

robinpud · 02/02/2009 20:34

Did the Head type it herself?

Our fantastic, creative and wouldn't swap him for the world head is a lousy speller. He knows, and he has someone check everything for him.

If it bothers you, then be honest, tell them and let them get some strategies in place.

Smithagain · 02/02/2009 20:37

I would think that she was probably in a rush to get the news out. And I would be glad that she was human. Would be more concerned if her management skills weren't up to scratch.

ja9 · 02/02/2009 20:43

Letters are usually typed by a school admin person are they not?

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 02/02/2009 20:44

She is always making mistakes and I wondered why she didn't put "bad"

It is also use of punctuation in letters etc.

The secretary was in school today as well

It isn't at DSs school but it is where my friend sends her DD

Oke doke

Thanks for replies

OP posts:
bagsforlife · 03/02/2009 14:29

Don't necessarily blame the secretary, I've worked in a school on the admin side and have had to correct spelling mistakes......

HT could have been typing the notice his/herself and made a typing error though!

bagsforlife · 03/02/2009 14:31

Don't necessarily blame the secretary, I've worked in a school on the admin side and have had to correct spelling mistakes......

HT could have been typing the notice his/herself and made a typing error though!

PortAndLemon · 03/02/2009 14:33

I would be surprised if the HT were updating the website and typing his/her letters personally.

BalsamicBreasts · 03/02/2009 14:35

I have had lists of spellings sent home with mistakes...I feel like running a red biro through them!

FAQtothefuture · 03/02/2009 14:40

my head teacher at secondary school was also the English teacher. He was an appalling speller, but he was a bloody good teacher - somehow (I still often wonder how lol) he got me through my Higher English with a reasonable grade.

georgimama · 03/02/2009 14:41

"Sevear" isn't really a typo though is it? It's a spelling error.

Whoever made the error it isn't good enough.

The idea of receiving lists of spellings with mistakes in them makes me shudder. I am not perfect all the time in spelling or grammar, but it isn't my job to teach those things to children.

scienceteacher · 03/02/2009 14:53

It is unlikely the person who wrote or typed the note is teaching children. The head will have been promoted beyond direct teaching.

georgimama · 03/02/2009 16:24

But surely anyone working in an educational establishment should be able to spell "severe", or know to use a spell checker? It isn't that hard.

Did the OP say whether it was a secondary or primary school? Lots of primary heads still teach and some secondary heads do too (mine taught sixth form, although I accept this was 12 years ago).

scienceteacher · 03/02/2009 16:30

They should be able to spell/proof-read, just like all the other 'shoulds' in life.

But it is probably not the most important attribute for a head teacher or administrator.

We really shouldn't be sweating the small-stuff.

BonsoirAnna · 03/02/2009 16:31

I would think less of the school. It should have strategies in place to prevent this sort of thing happening.

georgimama · 03/02/2009 16:40

Perhaps ST, but in that case how do you convince a child that it is important for them to use proper spelling and grammar?

It is important, people will think less of them in the workplace if they can't punctuate and spell properly. It undermines credibility.

I am a lawyer and I know that if I send out a letter with spelling mistakes, no matter how good I am at my job, my client would have less confidence in me. I do sometimes make spelling mistakes, which is why I use a spellchecker.

scienceteacher · 03/02/2009 18:03

I think I would put it down to an oopsie. Adults make mistakes too, even lawyers. The learning is that it important to look at a person's positive attributes and not look for a hook to hang them from.

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 03/02/2009 18:09

It is a primary school for ages 4 to 11 year olds

Yes the Head teacher does do some teaching ~ covering lessons etc.

She makes grammar mistakes as well as spelling in letters that she sends home or Headteacher reports etc.

OP posts:
cory · 03/02/2009 20:43

I am not so worried about the (frequent) oopsies in the weekly newsletter as I suspect the majority of those are perpetrated by the head of admin. But what does send me into a cold sweat are the spelling mistakes in the list of weekly spellings the children get to take home and learn. What do you tell a child- to learn the correct spelling and lose marks or to learn a spelling that they will then have to unlearn?

foxytocin · 03/02/2009 20:45

i'd say her PA needs firing retraining.

Monkeygi · 03/02/2009 20:56

IMO anyone involved in the education of our children should possess the basic skills e.g competency in spelling, grammar etc. The headteacher especially should be able to set an example. I would be worried also by '(frequent)' oopsies by the head of admin. Isn't it part of the admin job to be able to spell/type/use a spellchecker correctly? I dunno. I admit, I am a bit of a tartar about spelling but I had a similar problem at my ds's school.I actually wrote the correct spelling in his book and went in to see the teacher. (She blamed the teaching assistant).But then, I hate people who say Haitch instead of aitch..........

senua · 03/02/2009 23:07

I'm another pedant who thinks that a proper grasp of spelling and grammar is essential to a professional. Any doctor / lawyer / accountant will tell you that a slapdash mistake, even a tiny one, can be very expensive. I would be mortified if I sent out an official communication with a mistake in it.

As Georgi said, it undermines teachers' credibility with both pupils and parents.

ABetaDad · 03/02/2009 23:10

I make spelling mistakes all the time. Just cannot help it. No matter how hard I try.

With the advent of computer spellcheckers I find my life a lot easier. There is no excuse for not using them in written communication and getting a good secretary to read it through before sending it out of the building.

mumoverseas · 04/02/2009 08:26

I know from experience that all teachers make mistakes, spelling or otherwise.
A few months ago a very senior member of staff at my DS's school sent an email to me saying that I was 'an unpleasant lady, with an inferiority complex and a distorted view of my son's character and abilities' Needless to say, the email was not supposed to have been sent to me but another teacher
The email comprised 5 lines in total and had 6 spelling mistakes. Although I was (understandably?) very I had to chuckle about it and commented that I was glad that the teacher in question did not teach english or IT as clearly he had shortcomings in those areas

I would however like to add that I don't think I'm THAT unpleasant and my son, although he can be a little shit at times like most teenage boys, does have ability having passed 3 GCSE's at A grade at ages 13,14 & 15 respectively and is predicted as getting A's and A*s in the rest of the GCSE's this summer. So teacher in question, if you are reading and recognise yourself, kiss my arse!

georgimama · 04/02/2009 10:16

I hope you complained to the LEA and OFSTED, mumoverseas.

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