Pedantry at parents' evening

[GooseyLoosey]

Was parents' evening last night.

All ds's (5) books were out for us to look at. We picked up his literacy book and read comment praising his use of "the coma".

I was happy to let the spelling go, but try as I might I could not see any "comas" in his work.

We then sat down and talk to the teacher who begins to tell us how good his written work is and that he knows just where to put the comma in "isn't". The penny drops - she means apostrophe.

Dh and I tried not to say anything at the time as she really is a good teacher, but it was really hard.

Oh dear, poor woman. And she's made Goose's boy so happy too.

I'm sorry, I really don't get it. Why is it excessively nit-picking and pedantic to expect a teacher (who is employed to teach children to read and write) to be able to do so to an acceptable standard herself?

I am shocked at this teacher, and at the reactions of those who think it's ok that she can't spell the simplest of words, and thinks that apostrophes are com(m)as. I'd definitely take it up with the Head. Since the teacher's so keen on practicing (sic) her spelling, maybe she could go on a refresher course herself.

My DD isn't at school yet, but if this is a typical story, I can see that I'm going to be a Parent from Hell.

I agree with hundredtimes.
I'm not defending it and it would drive me crazy if she was my DC's teacher. All I'm saying is that if she is a super teacher in all other respects then I would try to put that fault to one side.

Apostrophes are my biggest grammar bugbear though. I just don't understand it because they are actually quite easy to understand. Just stop putting one before every bloody plural s and you'll be ok.

Possession and contraction, possession and contraction, possession and contraction...

Oh and the apostrophe comes before the s even if it's plural if the word itself is plural. So it's always children's.

Ok, I'm done!

let's keep it in perspective. I wouldn't be going to the head. SHe has strengths too.

Or perhaps - given the driving crazy factor - redcardi and I might point something out to her, in a kindly and helpful way, not in a cross you are responsible for the demise of our language didn't you go to university sort of way?

edam is right - why is spelling and grammar the subject where it's OK to teach children the wrong thing? It's almost seen as a sideline or a "perfection" issue. It should be basic stuff, as an adult, and the only way it gets like that is if you are consistently taught correctly from an early age.

We don't know she IS teaching them the wrong things though. All we know is she can't write or spell in her letters home, she couldn't spell comma or indeed know that it was an apostrophe.

That doesn't mean she's sitting down every morning and saying, 'now class, repeat after me K A T spells Cat'

Though having said that, I think Goose REALLY needs to get a hold of her ds's books and double-check what is going on.

But presumably if she is talking at parents' evening about his use of 'comas' then it is in response to something she has been teaching them? I don't really understand your post. If she's teaching them correctly then I'd find it a bit odd she could get it wrong in front of the parents!

Actually, I would go to the head. These are fundamental errors of grammar and spelling, and she is employed to teach the fundamentals of grammar and spelling to young children.

I am a university lecturer, and I am constantly appalled by the dreadful grammar and spelling of my students. It's no wonder if this is how they are taught from primary school onwards.

When marking student work, I personally live in dread of making mistakes in my own spelling/grammar and always spellcheck comments. It's my job to be a perfect and shining example, and it is her's too.

Actually I thought Goose's ds wrote 'isn't' sort of on his own initiative, and she was amazed - as well she might be, not really having a good grasp on this herself - and wrote 'great use of coma' and brought it up as an example of great writing by ds?

I don't know. I'm a bit tired of her now. I've defended and defended this more simple-minded soul. She needs CORRECTING.

oh HLaurens

Well I told a whole class off today for illicit texting and receiveing messages, when I realised it was my phone that had bleeped.

Humble pie was eaten.

so yes. teachers are human too.

checking and checking and checking

It is hers too.

It is her's too.

Get a primary school teacher OVER HERE NOW.

and OH MY GOD I TYPED RECEIVING WRONGLY ( note use of adverb there)

Orf with me head

hmmm you could be right. The first thing that occurred to me was that he was very young to be using apostrophes (although if that is how he's been taught the word I suppose he may just not know what it is, just to put one in). OTOH exam results improve every year so presumably children are getting brighter and learning complex stuff earlier.
Goosey - we need more information!

lol TinaTuna was it an annoying ring tone or a normal one?

sorry, text, beeped
Im to tyred 4 this

Oh god I knew I'd make a mistake in the post! To be fair, I am watching Masterchef AND posting at the same time. And I never mark essays in front of the tv, honest....!!!

I do it all the time, it just couldn't have happened in a worse sentence, and so near the end too - you'd have got away with it if it hadn't been for that pesky her's!

I'm telling ALL your students, especially the ones you despair of and write rude remarks on their essays about how can they be in the second year of university and STILL not know how to spell tomorrow.

Had to read that a few times, wondering how she should predict their future spelling