2008 Facts Options

[Hoodstock]

Crazy1 is plenty intelligent. Grammar and spelling on a message board is a pain to check. I'm very guilty of this flaw as well.

As I tell my students, spelling does not count. As long as I can understand your point, we're cool.

You mean you're cool (as in your students). You, my man, have a Yoda avatar - enough said!

[Hoodstock]

Which is precisely why American education is a fucking joke. Grammar and spelling should be second nature -- not a pain to check. You're both idiots.

Yo G - dis a message bord, not a fukin term paper. This is lax language, go speak you proper sheeeit wit you havard peeps! If u tak all props like you rite you a real stiff!

Amen.

People are fucking dumber than a bowl of captain crunch. Stupidity is rampant and common sense is scarce.

Comparing smarts to a bowl of Cap'n Cruch (Spell it right next time Foo!) That is the dumbest fucking analogy to date!

I have many faults, but I can honestly say I'm a damn good teacher.

If you feel that you have to tell us that to justify, then I have my doubts!


This post has been edited by Hoodstock: Dec 6 2007, 4:58 pm

[Trathena]

I'm a high school physical education and health teacher. In my health class, I could care less if my students can spell chlamydia 100 percent correctly on an exam. I just want them to understand the dangers of contracting such an illness, so that they can avoid problems in their life.

I'm sorry, but this is bugging me. Why don't you care if they can spell it? When did learning to spell the words of diseases in health class (for god's sake!) become unimportant? It's not even that hard to spell. It's practically phonetic.

And the lesson isn't that difficult: Chlamydia is an STD; wear a rubber. Is the lesson on avoiding STDs so freaking hard that it's beyond the pale to expect students to learn how to spell them? Have we lowered the bar that much? If teachers (even if they are PE teachers) don't expect the fucking basics from their students, why even continue to pretend education is important?

You're not alone, SJN, and I'm not trying to pick on you. In college, I had a History professor who graded grammar, syntax, and spelling along with content for our essays, and the griping among my peers was huge. To them, it was bad enough they had to (gasp!) write papers for a history class, but having to write well-written ones? That was just ridiculous. I was embarrassed for them too.

Here is an example of a typical post on another band's message forum. This is all from the same girl:

COOL!you live in france how awsome!!!!!!how is it there?

wow.your from france too?my sister wants to go to france...

awsome...you shouled u whouled like it here!

This is a high school girl. These quotes are all from the same thread. I've gotten to the point that if she's the last post I don't even click on it. This is how she writes. And she's not alone by a long shot. She's become the norm. It's sickening.

Typos are one thing. They're expected. I have typos in posts. But the above (and the posts here that existential is referring to) is just sloppy, lazy, not-giving-a-shit writing. That's inexcusable, and should be embarrassing.

[+Ed+]

Thank god Ed Kowalczyk is not American.....

[turn my head]

yes , he is a Dutchman

[LiveRoCkS77]

I'm sorry, but this is bugging me. Why don't you care if they can spell it? When did learning to spell the words of diseases in health class (for god's sake!) become unimportant? It's not even that hard to spell. It's practically phonetic.

And the lesson isn't that difficult: Chlamydia is an STD; wear a rubber. Is the lesson on avoiding STDs so freaking hard that it's beyond the pale to expect students to learn how to spell them? Have we lowered the bar that much? If teachers (even if they are PE teachers) don't expect the fucking basics from their students, why even continue to pretend education is important?

You're not alone, SJN, and I'm not trying to pick on you. In college, I had a History professor who graded grammar, syntax, and spelling along with content for our essays, and the griping among my peers was huge. To them, it was bad enough they had to (gasp!) write papers for a history class, but having to write well-written ones? That was just ridiculous. I was embarrassed for them too.

Here is an example of a typical post on another band's message forum. This is all from the same girl:
This is a high school girl. These quotes are all from the same thread. I've gotten to the point that if she's the last post I don't even click on it. This is how she writes. And she's not alone by a long shot. She's become the norm. It's sickening.

Typos are one thing. They're expected. I have typos in posts. But the above (and the posts here that existential is referring to) is just sloppy, lazy, not-giving-a-shit writing. That's inexcusable, and should be embarrassing.

Honestly, I think you are giving too much credit here. I find that if it were just plain laziness or somebody just being sloppy, it would be ok. But in most instances, I think you are seeing the true grammar skills these people posess. I don't think they are capable of much more. I think they give a shit, but couldn't correct those errors if their lives depended on it.

[edstipe]

As I tell my students, spelling does not count. As long as I can understand your point, we're cool.

I'm jumping into this conversation late, but I sincerely hope that this comment is a joke. Sadly, I fear that it is not.

I'm a teacher. I teach English Literature and Composition to 10th and 11th grade students in a suburban, low-income school in Southern California.

I tell my students that if there's ONE thing they should get out of education, it's the ability to write with proper grammar and spelling. I know it's not the most enjoyable or entertaining thing to learn, but let's face it -- if a person leaves school not knowing the basics of writing, he/she is NEVER going to learn these things. Then, when he/she enters the real world and realizes that writing is involved in almost anything we do -- from a person's job, to household chores, to communicating with peers, associates, etc. -- it's too late.

The inability to write properly can be a tremendous obstacle in getting a job, communicating with business associates, etc. However, more than anything else, it simply makes a person look ignorant. When I have to communicate with others in everyday situations, a person who cannot use proper grammar or spelling in his/her writing automatically comes off as lacking credibility or intelligence. That may be unfair, but that's the nature of first impressions.

Anyhow, to get back to my point -- it's a tremendously sad truth that many teachers accept student writing that is marred with grammatical errors. I often hear teachers comment that it's the thoughts that matter, not the grammar or spelling. Yes, it's true that we, as teachers, need to teach students to think deeply and for themselves; however, we are doing them a huge disservice when we give them an A or B on a paper that is littered with errors in mechanics. It sends the message that it's okay not to be able to write using the basic principles of the language, which is absolutely false. Good writing has good grammar AND good thinking; not just one or the other.

Sadly, many non-English teachers today think it is the job of the English teacher alone to teach and promote basic writing skills. That is unfair and false. It is the job of ANY teacher who implements writing into his/her curriculum to emphasize and teach spelling and grammar.

I swear, I spend more time undoing the harm other teachers have done in teaching students that it's okay to make spelling and grammar errors than anything else. But you know what? My students appreciate it. I can't tell you how many students have come back to visit me after leaving my class to tell me how their next teacher complimented them on being able to write well. There is a great amount of pride to be had when students feel that they REALLY know how to write on a level on par with educated adults.

[LiveRoCkS77]

I'm jumping into this conversation late, but I sincerely hope that this comment is a joke. Sadly, I fear that it is not.

I'm a teacher. I teach English Literature and Composition to 10th and 11th grade students in a suburban, low-income school in Southern California.

I tell my students that if there's ONE thing they should get out of education, it's the ability to write with proper grammar and spelling. I know it's not the most enjoyable or entertaining thing to learn, but let's face it -- if a person leaves school not knowing the basics of writing, he/she is NEVER going to learn these things. Then, when he/she enters the real world and realizes that writing is involved in almost anything we do -- from a person's job, to household chores, to communicating with peers, associates, etc. -- it's too late.

The inability to write properly can be a tremendous obstacle in getting a job, communicating with business associates, etc. However, more than anything else, it simply makes a person look ignorant. When I have to communicate with others in everyday situations, a person who cannot use proper grammar or spelling in his/her writing automatically comes off as lacking credibility or intelligence. That may be unfair, but that's the nature of first impressions.

Anyhow, to get back to my point -- it's a tremendously sad truth that many teachers accept student writing that is marred with grammatical errors. I often hear teachers comment that it's the thoughts that matter, not the grammar or spelling. Yes, it's true that we, as teachers, need to teach students to think deeply and for themselves; however, we are doing them a huge disservice when we give them an A or B on a paper that is littered with errors in mechanics. It sends the message that it's okay not to be able to write using the basic principles of the language, which is absolutely false. Good writing has good grammar AND good thinking; not just one or the other.

Sadly, many non-English teachers today think it is the job of the English teacher alone to teach and promote basic writing skills. That is unfair and false. It is the job of ANY teacher who implements writing into his/her curriculum to emphasize and teach spelling and grammar.

I swear, I spend more time undoing the harm other teachers have done in teaching students that it's okay to make spelling and grammar errors than anything else. But you know what? My students appreciate it. I can't tell you how many students have come back to visit me after leaving my class to tell me how their next teacher complimented them on being able to write well. There is a great amount of pride to be had when students feel that they REALLY know how to write on a level on par with educated adults.

Good to see that there are some teachers who still give a shit. The young minds that pass through your hands at least have a fighting chance. Keep up the good work on that front because you're making a difference in peoples lives.

I know a few people who have spent over a hundred grand on their university educations, yet still need a calculator or a pen and paper to do basic math. I do the directors sales board for our company without a calculator, dealing with numbers in the millions. Yet we have university educated people who panic when pressed to answer what any given percentage of a figure over a million dollars is. The same people whose writing you can't read for it's lack of proper punctuation, not to mention the fact the my 11 years olds writing is far more legible and cohesive.

I just find it sad that the acceptable threshold of average intelligence seems to have hit rock bottom. People being content with their limitations. Such a sad statement on our race considering the capacity of the human brain being pretty much limit free.

Oh well, keep up the good work anyhow.

[Badman]

not to mention the fact the my 11 years olds writing is far more legible and cohesive.

Is legibility important to all of you? I have a serious problem with it but everything I write in an essay is grammatically sound and easily understood. I really don't think my handwriting is that big of a deal because I still got 4s on both my English AP tests and I believe they are the best test a student can take. Well... unless you want to get into the very best of schools... but that isn't me because I am dirt poor

[Wambangalang]

well i went to university and i honestly cannot add a pair of two digit numbers together without using my fingers. im hopeless. and yet i have a borderline autistic friend who can recall the change i recieved for a bubble-o-bill ice cream in the summer of 96 at the royal show. i know we're in different waters when we're dealing with autism, but when it comes to the ability to add and subtract simple numbers, my brain just doesnt react. its genetic

can anyone say off-topic???

[Wambangalang]

badman made another poin. no matter how hard i try, i can not write neatly. it is absolutly atrocious. Believe me or not, i have a fraternal twin brother, his writing: impecable in terms of legibility. He's also pretty good at maths!

[Pokey]

I'm the same with maths, the calculator is my best friend .. my brain just wasn't built that way unfortunatly.

[SJN1279]

I'm jumping into this conversation late, but I sincerely hope that this comment is a joke. Sadly, I fear that it is not.

I'm a teacher. I teach English Literature and Composition to 10th and 11th grade students in a suburban, low-income school in Southern California.

I tell my students that if there's ONE thing they should get out of education, it's the ability to write with proper grammar and spelling. I know it's not the most enjoyable or entertaining thing to learn, but let's face it -- if a person leaves school not knowing the basics of writing, he/she is NEVER going to learn these things. Then, when he/she enters the real world and realizes that writing is involved in almost anything we do -- from a person's job, to household chores, to communicating with peers, associates, etc. -- it's too late.

The inability to write properly can be a tremendous obstacle in getting a job, communicating with business associates, etc. However, more than anything else, it simply makes a person look ignorant. When I have to communicate with others in everyday situations, a person who cannot use proper grammar or spelling in his/her writing automatically comes off as lacking credibility or intelligence. That may be unfair, but that's the nature of first impressions.

Anyhow, to get back to my point -- it's a tremendously sad truth that many teachers accept student writing that is marred with grammatical errors. I often hear teachers comment that it's the thoughts that matter, not the grammar or spelling. Yes, it's true that we, as teachers, need to teach students to think deeply and for themselves; however, we are doing them a huge disservice when we give them an A or B on a paper that is littered with errors in mechanics. It sends the message that it's okay not to be able to write using the basic principles of the language, which is absolutely false. Good writing has good grammar AND good thinking; not just one or the other.

Sadly, many non-English teachers today think it is the job of the English teacher alone to teach and promote basic writing skills. That is unfair and false. It is the job of ANY teacher who implements writing into his/her curriculum to emphasize and teach spelling and grammar.

I swear, I spend more time undoing the harm other teachers have done in teaching students that it's okay to make spelling and grammar errors than anything else. But you know what? My students appreciate it. I can't tell you how many students have come back to visit me after leaving my class to tell me how their next teacher complimented them on being able to write well. There is a great amount of pride to be had when students feel that they REALLY know how to write on a level on par with educated adults.

I do correct their poor grammer in essays, but I do not count their errors against their grade. I teach not only regular ed, but a good number of special needs students, so I need to be flexible in my grading style. As an english teacher, you clearly have to grade in a way appropriate with your curriculum goals. Its all relative.

[Existentialist]

Are you even qualified to be correcting their grammar? Hell, you can't even spell it. Nor can you properly teach English, which is a language so it is always capitalized. It *IS* all relative!

[LiveRoCkS77]

Are you even qualified to be correcting their grammar? Hell, you can't even spell it. Nor can you properly teach English, which is a language so it is always capitalized. It *IS* all relative!

AHAHAHAHAHA