Bad Grammar in E-mail from School Superintendent

[Pembo]

I e-mailed our school superintendent to complain about the early start time for our 2nd and 3rd graders. The school day begins at 7:25 am. I received a rather curt reply and I'm copying only part of the reply here.

The current schedule is working, and I will not recommend that it be changed. Thank you for your interest in the Amherst School. If I can be of further assistants to you, please don't hesitate to contact me.

There is something rather upsetting in receiving an e-mail from the man in charge of our schools that has such a horrible grammatical error in it.

 

[caitycaity]

i don't know the superindentant (obviously) but sometimes when people get busy or are in a hurry they make mistakes like that. (i know i do). i don't think it's that big a deal.

of course, like i said, i don't know the guy, so maybe he is just a stupid schmuck.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Well, he should have read over it for sure. But it could be that his secretary actually wrote and sent it. I know the CEO at the hospital's secretary did his correspondence all the time.

 

[CRB#33]

One way or the other, when you are in a position of authority like that, I think it's a responsibility to proof read everything you write.

I mean he just made an idiot out of himself. An extra 45 seconds of proofreading would have fixed that.

People are so lazy sometimes and it doesn't make a good impression.

 

[LindaR]

I have to tell you that this is a major pet peeve of mine!!!!!!! When my daughter was in 7th grade her English teacher sent home a permission slip that was full of spelling and grammar errors. I got a red pencil, made corrections, signed the slip, and sent it back to school!!! Yes, he did say something to my daughter but she just smiled, gave him my cell phone number and told him he could speak directly to me.

 

[CEDmom]

I know even with proof reading I sometimes miss something. That's why I rely on spelling and grammar check. However, some people just don't bother and maybe this guy is one of them. It does look bad though.

The Director at my DD's daycare is horrible with spelling and grammar. It got so bad that I now type the minutes of the parent meeting.

 

[2bemarried]

Linda. A couple of my English professors in COLLEGE have made grammar and spelling mistakes on the tests. It's so funny when someone points them out.

As for the assistant principle I still don't understand why the kids have to start school so early.

 

[mcnuss]

While ITA, this could have been caused by spell check....that has happened to me before.

I am also happy to know that I am not the only person who has used the red pencil on a document from the school. I've edited many in my day, and sent them back to the office anonymously. You are braver than I am! I also edit items in our local paper, and send emails to webmasters when I see really egregious errors (it's vs its drives me wild!). Once I had to call the Public Library bc they had a major error on their big outdoor sign.


I do realize that I am not perfect, and I only do this when the person or entity should be a role-model for good grammar and punctuation.

 

[CamColt]

Ill admit it is a funny mistake, especially coming from someone in his position, but it is just that, a mistake. Most of us do make them. Who knows, maybe he was in the middle of emailing and someone entered his office with a pressing matter and he just finished off the email? Maybe it was his secretary who typed it? Or maybe he did proofread it and he still missed the mistake? I know I always proofread my posts here, but then later in the day when Im on the same thread Ill catch something so obvious that I missed before.
I dont think 1 spelling/grammar error makes the guy an idiot....it makes him human.

 

[katerkat]

I covered the local schools for my newspaper, and every single invitation from the superintendent's office to a press conference had a mis-spelling or grammar mistake. We found it hysterical.

 

[Maleficent13]

I have to agree with the OP. It really gives you pause for thought when someone who is supposed to be a role model for education sends something out with an obvious error. I think these people (and any people in positions of authority) should take extra care to ensure that their communications are clear and accurate. I agree that everyone makes mistakes, but try to make sure you don't make them when sending something like that! Just MHO.

 

[CBRorBust]

Sorry to stick up for the guy, but I just copy/pasted that whole thing into my Word, and it came back as correct.

Now I know that it's the wrong word there, but he may not have caught it because it didn't come out as wrong. I don't know...people have off days!

 

[Allie322]

I am in total agreement with the OP. A while back, there was a pet peeve thread and this very topic was mine. It makes me crazy when the school sends home notices with spelling and grammatical errors. I certainly understand if it is just a typing error (teh, instead of the) but assistants vs. assistance is no typing error! JMHO

Edited to add that you folks who actually get the red pen out and correct are my HEROES!!! I have been tempted on so many occasions but have never gotten up the nerve to do it!

 

[Pembo]

I don't think there is a good excuse for anyone to send out any correspondence with errors in it. Take the time to make sure it is correct. If you aren't good with grammar/spelling etc then get someone else to look it over. JMHO

 

[CRSNDSNY]

As an educator, attention to detail is extremely important. Shame on him!

 

[ckr]

"As for the assistant principle "

Shouldn't that be principAL ??

Just thought I'd lighten things up a bit. No rudeness intended.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

This is a great example of why no one should ever rely on spell check or grammar check. When I was taking Journalism classes in college those functions were disabled. It meant lugging a dictionary and thesaurus to lab, and it also meant having to read every word that you wrote. The best tip I ever received from a professor: proof your spelling by reading your document from the end to the beginning. You will see mistakes that you normally don't see because your eyes tend to see what they think they should.

 

[Bojangles]

Superintendents are very busy administrators. They usually have secretaries that answer their email from parents.

 

[tmq2766]

I wish I could be as perfect as all the critics on this thread. Heaven forbid you ever make a mistake. It really just sounds like you don't like the guy and this is just an opportunity to attack him. How dare him make a mistake!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by tmq2766
How dare him make a mistake!

I think you mean, "How dare he make a mistake!"

JK! Please ...its a joke, really!!!!