The school Christmas newsletter depresses me.

[fircone]

The school issued a Christmas newsletter - about eight pages.

The trouble was the spelling and grammar was no less than appalling. I know it is produced by two volunteers, but surely a literate teacher could have proof-read it before it was issued?

I know I may be going over the top here, but I feel a bit down that the school is represented by this. If I were the Head I would have made strong use of my red pen!

Would it be completely out of order for me to make a complaint?

Yes, volunteer to proof-read it yourself if it bothers you

don't complain
offer to assist the person doing it

No. If we don't keep up the standard then we will end up with a generation of children who talk and write in "txt". And while I cna't spell for toffee, that's what the spell-check button is for!

But I do agree, if it is a major concern, then volunteer to do it yourself.

Well, that is a fair point. I considered offering to help for, about, 3 seconds before realising that the parents association people would tell me to sling my hook. The PA makes the Freemasons look welcoming and inclusive.

It's not just the newsletters though; it's many of the notes from the teachers too.

If it's a PTA letter you could 'mark' it and post it anonymously in their box if they have one

Ooh, tremendous idea . No box, but I'll don a disguise and drop it off at the school office

I would have a word with the Head then. I wouldn't care what anyone thought of me but this is going out under the schools' name and can and will reflect on the school.

You only have to look at some of the MN threads to realise how serious people are about schooling (rightly so) and this does not show the school in a good light.

I would volunteer to help out. So what if they are unwelcoming - it is your childs school and you have as much right to be on the PTA as anyone else. Maybe they don't mean to come accross as unwelcoming but are so used to not many people coming to meetings/helping out that they are resigned to doing everything themselves. I think that it's not fair to complain about these things unless you are actually offering to help in some way. PTAs/committees are usually run by a handful of people who are as pushed for time as any other parent (speaking from bitter experience ). They probably had to knock up a newsletter quickly last thing at night before going to bed. Still, no excuse for not getting spellings checked .

Says she with across spelt incorrectly!

Everyone is tired and emotional at the moment. Chances are it was a major rush getting it out, because of all the Christmas stuff that's going on. And no-one will thank you for being picky, when they are all just trying to get to the end of term in one piece.

If it bothers you, I would wait until January and see if the first one of next term is just as bad. Then decide whether to say anything.

Offer to help with the next one?
Kind of, put up or shut up!

Thanks for the comments.
Smithagain - I think waiting till the next one is a good idea.

Perhaps I'll let someone else do the complaining for now. Surely I can't have been the only one taken aback by such horrors as "imanant" (imminent) and "thankyou for there help". Aaagh!

Who wrote it? If it was children I wouldn't be too bothered about misspellings. If it was the teaching staff I'd be sending it to the local paper for a bit of much deserved public humiliation.

Until you gave your examples I thought you were talking about a few typos. Those mistakes are shocking. I would be very embarrassed if I worked for that school.

yes, becaue if you arethat bothered abotu it, then you should be the one writintg it up as a volumterr

Correct it in red ink and post it to the Head anonymously, asking if this is how they wish their school to be represented.

i think the anonymous idea is a good one. I dont think you are overreacted. The children get corrected on their spelling.

I just send them back with errors marked in red and a little note suggesting they address the issue.