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Pedants' corner
Original poster

Pedantry at parents' evening

177 replies

GooseyLoosey · 25/02/2009 08:43

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.

OP posts:
ahundredtimes · 25/02/2009 21:56

How about -

'my mum said you can't spell comma correctly and that you think an apostrophe is actually a comma. Ha ha ha. She's been discussing it on the internet with loads of women, and they are all shocked. Shocked I tell you. What time is lunch Miss?'

That'd do it.

ahundredtimes · 25/02/2009 21:56

lol at form

spongebrainbigpants · 25/02/2009 22:01

PMSL @ hundred - think that would work!

My dh has just suggested you buy her Eat, Shoots & Leaves as an Easter present!

abbierhodes · 25/02/2009 22:11

I don't understand how you get into teaching without knowing the difference between a comma and an apostophe. You have to have a C at English GCSE minimum. You can't get level 5 without using punctuation within the sentence correctly, so there's no way you'd pass a GCSE at a higher level. Is this woman definitely a qualified teacher?

Original poster
GooseyLoosey · 25/02/2009 22:13

Yes - I have it now, he can take "Eats shoots and leaves" in to school for show and tell next time and then perhaps he could ask her if she wants to borrow it afterwards. I'm sure she wouldn't hold it against me.

OP posts:
spongebrainbigpants · 25/02/2009 22:13

I've worked with several teachers (all qualified) who didn't know their arse comma from their elbow apostrophe, and couldn't spell if their life depended on it.

Sad but true.

squeaver · 25/02/2009 22:14

I was thinking about this thread at a school thing this evening (while also concentrating hard on the importance of phonics, obviously) and I wonder if she's getting apostrophes mixed up with inverted commas.

If so, it's slightly more understandable. I would still have said something at the time. I know that's not much help.

SlartyBartFast · 25/02/2009 22:28

i spose you could point out - in a worried fashion - that you thought they were called apostrophes but she called them commas. have they chagned their names or something??#

TinaTuna · 25/02/2009 22:28

i am a teacher. I cant spell tomorrow , occasionally ( si that right?) and accommodation

no twas a normal ringtone.

StealthPolarBear · 26/02/2009 09:09

"my mum said you can't spell comma correctly and that you think an apostrophe is actually a comma. Ha ha ha. She's been discussing it on the internet with loads of women, and they are all shocked. Shocked I tell you. What time is lunch Miss?"

PMSL

Does Miss have children?

smallone · 26/02/2009 09:10

An apostrophe can be called a hanging comma, perhaps this is where the confusion is coming from.

StealthPolarBear · 26/02/2009 09:13

ooh the plot thickens

Scrumplet · 26/02/2009 10:11

Goosey, that's appalling. I suspect it's more common than we would hope, though. One of my closest friends is a primary teacher and I cringe when I read her texts (I know, only texts - but even so) - she uses not only no capitals, but no punctuation at all. Hard work on the reader/decipherer. Her emails aren't much better. And another friend is a Reception teacher at an "outstanding" school. Not much better, I'm afraid - and clusters of exclamation marks ending every sentence.

I think it's unacceptable, but it seems increasingly standard. And where these two women are, I imagine, brilliant with the children in class, I wouldn't have the patience, concentration or stamina to do their jobs - so good enough grammar wouldn't get me far!

Maybe the solution in your case would be to talk to your son, rather than his teacher, and make sure he knows what a comma is and how to spell it and - if he's ready - an apostrophe, too. A lot of (top-up) education happens at home after all. If your DS's teacher does similar again, perhaps politely question it there and then.

NoIAmTheNewQueenofMN · 26/02/2009 11:35

Who calls apostrophes 'hanging commas'? I've never heard the expression, not once in my 46, nearly 47 years.

Am bemused.

GrapefruitMoon · 26/02/2009 11:54

I don't encourage dh to come to parents evenings anymore as he has been known to point out inappropriate apostrophes, etc to teachers. I just inwardly seethe but don't say anything, he is not so restrained!

PlumpRumpSoggyBaps · 26/02/2009 12:20

I showed ds1 (previously told in primary school that they were 'hanging commas') an apostrophe and asked him what it was. After a little mix-up ("it's a laptop." No, that." "It's writing." "Yes, I know that. I mean THAT." etc etc) he gave me a very strange look and told me kindly that it was an apostrophe.

I don't know whether he's come to this realisation via school or via me repeating ad nauseam "It's an apostrophe. It's an apostrophe. It's an apostrophe." but I'm very glad he's got it right. Some comfort, anyway.

I have pointed out the odd spelling mistake to teachers in the past but (think) I'm quite polite about it. I haven't been thumped yet, anyway. DH has to be restrained (enormous/unfair generalisation follows) as he's South African and they're ruder more forthright with their opinions IME.

Jux · 26/02/2009 12:28

DD's class get 'targets' for literacy which are stuck into their reading report books so parents can check them and ask appropriate questions etc. I can't remember exactly what it was, but one of dd's targets was a complete tautology, and while dd was reading to me, I absentmindedly doodled on it saying "Tautological! Naughty naughty". I couldn't tippex it as it was inextricably tangled up with the original phrase. Her teacher grabbed me after school and apologised profusely! I was sooooo embarrassed!

We became good friends btw.

blouseybrown · 26/02/2009 13:18

I used to work in a primary school and I was horrified to see spelling mistakes on displays on the wall - written by the teacher. The school caretaker pointed it out to me - think it was only he and I that noticed! One teacher - who is now a headteacher - wrote that a child had toncilitis! I think it is not acceptable for there to be any spelling/grammatical errors written by a teacher in a child's book or on a display. I cannot believe a teacher would call an apostrophe a comma - an apostrophe is at the top - a comma is at the bottom

BuckTarbrush · 26/02/2009 13:20

I trained as a teacher and the amount of 18 year olds going into teaching who didn't have a basic grasp of basic skills, both maths and engish, is appalling - they offered special coaching at our college to get people up to a reasonable standard but by that age the bad habits are very deep set. I think apostrophes totally matter and it makes me really cross to see them used badly all the time, especially by teachers. I have a teacher friend who also gets they're, their and there, and to and too, wrong every single time! I don't know how she manages it but it makes me really cross!

myredcardigan · 26/02/2009 14:18

Scrumplet, I think you're being a bit harsh judging her grammar by the quality of her texts. I never use capitals in a text message. The whole point of a text message is to send details as quickly as possible.

Why on Earth would you assume that because she doesn't bother to puncuate texts, it follows that she uses little or no punctuation in her job?

...and if her texts make you cringe then that says more about you I would think.

Habbibu · 26/02/2009 15:14

I once shared a flat with a student secondary English teacher, who did very well in her course, and got a good job immediately afterwards, followed fairly quickly by promotion to head of English.

I had to give her a crash course on English grammar before she started her job - was really shocked by just how little she knew. Now, English language was my "trade" for many years, so I'm more of a specialist than most, but still...

McSue · 26/02/2009 18:40

I agree, it does matter. As a TA in a primary school I come across this sort of error ALL the time. Being a pedantic old moo I always point it out to the teacher...

pointydog · 26/02/2009 20:26

the number of 18 year olds

mykidsmakemyday · 26/02/2009 21:53

Wow, not posted on here for 'time', as ds1 would say, but can't seem to leave without adding my bit.

I can't bear poor grammar and punctuation - everyone can make the occasional mistake or typo (covers oneself ) but I am sick and tired of random apostrophes appearing anywhere and everywhere and I guess this whole thread is indicative of this general downturn in standards. It DOES matter, it matters because it's our language and we should use it correctly, it matters because spelling, punctuation and grammar (or lack thereof) can completely alter what is being said.

It's too simplistic to blame the teacher - somewhere her own education has let her down. It's clear she could be an excellent teacher but needs to do a bit of revision!

But as for:

"my mum said you can't spell comma correctly and that you think an apostrophe is actually a comma. Ha ha ha. She's been discussing it on the internet with loads of women, and they are all shocked. Shocked I tell you. What time is lunch Miss?"

Love it. Go for it, I say.

ps Am I a raging pedant for sending back incorrect missives from school corrected in red biro?

SlartyBartFast · 26/02/2009 21:56

is it a dreaded americanism??