. . .irregardless

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

 

[Uncle Remus]

 

[Kendra17]

Wow, this was interesting. Miss Jasmine. .. I think you're right.

I stated in my original post that I knew that some may consider this trivial.

I want to clarify why I sent the email anonymously. I did not want my email to reflect negatively on my daughter. One poster here mentioned that his daughter possibly did not get in to an advanced class because of an issue with a teacher. I have seen similar things happen to other students and I'm sure some of you have seen this, as well. Also, it is a trivial issue, in a way. But, I thought the teacher would WANT to know the correct word. Certain posters on this particular thread (that I've had somewhat negative exchanges with on political threads) were very quick to tell me I was wrong, have also been very quick to point out to others the same type of thing I wanted to point out to the teacher. For instance, I used a run-on sentence the other day, and one nitpicking poster quoted it and quickly let me know.

So, whether I look cowardly to all of you or not, I wanted to avoid any possible repercussions towards my daughter. My motivation was not to embarrass her. My only motivation was to give the teacher the correct information so that she would, hopefully, pass on the correct information to the children.

One of you suggested I report this to the principal. I did not do this because I did not want to make it a bigger issue than it was. I tried to keep it in perspective. And, really, I know people make mistakes all the time. It was the fact that she insisted she was correct, said "I told you so", and then used in triumphantly 3 more times.

Last year, my son had a substitute use the word "work ethnic" rather than "work ethic". I heard about it later. To those that think I overreacted here, what would you have done, if anything?

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

gotten over it and that's it. NO e-mail no post about it. Just gotten over it.

 

[I Love Pluto]

I agree with some of the others. Put this to rest, "irregardless" of your temptation to dwell on it. E-mailing the teacher was a bit of an overreaction.

 

[sugarpie]

I really don't care what the issue was. I just have a hard time with a student interrupting a teacher in the middle of class to correct anything. I realize this is an elite school, but is it full of a bunch of pompous brats? Do they think they're more qualified than their college educated instructor? Teachers deserve respect. Sometimes the most important lessons aren't taught to our children.

 

[palmtreegirl]

The fact that Kendra posted this is skewing a lot of the responses. Come on, admit it.

When people use the word "irregardless" it is like fingernails across a chalkboard for me. It is not proper grammar, and a teacher (any type of teacher) should not be using it (exceptions can be made for those who use English as a second language). Would I make a big deal about it though? No. If my kid knew it was incorrect then that would be good enough for me.

 

[Beca]

Wow, this was interesting. Miss Jasmine. .. I think you're right.

I stated in my original post that I knew that some may consider this trivial.

I want to clarify why I sent the email anonymously. I did not want my email to reflect negatively on my daughter. One poster here mentioned that his daughter possibly did not get in to an advanced class because of an issue with a teacher. I have seen similar things happen to other students and I'm sure some of you have seen this, as well. Also, it is a trivial issue, in a way. But, I thought the teacher would WANT to know the correct word. Certain posters on this particular thread (that I've had somewhat negative exchanges with on political threads) were very quick to tell me I was wrong, have also been very quick to point out to others the same type of thing I wanted to point out to the teacher. For instance, I used a run-on sentence the other day, and one nitpicking poster quoted it and quickly let me know.

So, whether I look cowardly to all of you or not, I wanted to avoid any possible repercussions towards my daughter. My motivation was not to embarrass her. My only motivation was to give the teacher the correct information so that she would, hopefully, pass on the correct information to the children.

One of you suggested I report this to the principal. I did not do this because I did not want to make it a bigger issue than it was. I tried to keep it in perspective. And, really, I know people make mistakes all the time. It was the fact that she insisted she was correct, said "I told you so", and then used in triumphantly 3 more times.

Last year, my son had a substitute use the word "work ethnic" rather than "work ethic". I heard about it later. To those that think I overreacted here, what would you have done, if anything?

Sorry...but by sending the email anonymously....it APPEARS you just wanted to be right, and get the "last word" in. It would be the email equivalent of shouting your opinion to someone and slamming the door, or an email "hit and run". I think that if you really felt strongly about this, you should've had a face to face discussion with the teacher.

The good news is, your dd and others in the classroom knew this to be incorrect. That means her school must be doing a great job in the English department.

I also think your dd needs to prepare herself for a world where math professors have less than stellar English. In my freshman year of college (back in the mid-80's), I had tested out of freshman math. So, I found myself in an upper-level, math and science majors' math class. At my particular university, I was the only person in this class (appx. 100 kids) who spoke English as their first language. The professor was from China, and most of the students were Indian, Japanese, or Arab. On the first day of class, our professor began speaking, only to have everyone look at each other in bewilderment. With the varying degrees of accents in the room...no one could understand his version of English. He came up to me, and asked me to sit by his desk during class, and help him. For the remainder of the semester, I stood with the professor while he taught. He would say a sentence, and then I would repeat it. When other students in the class would ask a question, I would then repeat the question to the professor, and then repeat the answer to the student. It was kind of a pain, especially since it meant I could not miss a single class. But, I felt like it was something I needed to do...everyone was trying SOO hard to do their best. The benefit for me, was that I really understood that class, because I had to explain it to others in the class. My professor's English might have been poor, but he was AMAZING at higher-level math. I learned so much from him!!! I have a feeling that, if your dd focused on what her teacher does know well, instead of what she doesn't know well...you dd would learn a lot more in the course of a year.

And, as far as calling out the teacher's mistake in class....I find that VERY shocking!! Do you realize that, even as recently as the 1920's (America), and the 1950's (England), students were required to stand when a professor entered and left the room? Knowing that someone is incorrect, and pointing that out to them is two VERY different issues. The only person's grammar I correct is my dd's, because I am her "teacher", and that is my job. The act of correcting someone's grammar or word usage implies that you are "above" them, and that's why what your dd (and other students) did was wrong.

If the math teacher gave incorrect math advice...then I can completely see debating the point. But, she was just speaking. It sounds to me like there might have been a room full of children who are very impressed with their own intelligence, and were snotty enough to point it out at the beginning of the school year. However, they are just kids. They will definitely have their eyes opened if they are fortunate enough to attend a highly competitive university. However, I am not sure what was your excuse?

Instead of allowing your dd to take part in finding fault with her teachers, why not ask your dd to try focusing on learning from them....THAT is her responsibility.

I think you ought to "fess up" and apologize to the teacher. Open genuine doors of communication, and allow her to give you her version of the events. I am just curious. Is your dd aware that you sent her teacher an email anonymously? If so, what kind of message is that sending to your dd?

Here's a good link to "Helicopter Parenting":
http://www.collegeboard.com/parents/plan/getting-ready/50129.html

 

[peachgirl]

For instance, I used a run-on sentence the other day, and one nitpicking poster quoted it and quickly let me know.

On come on Kendra...let's just name names. That nitpicky poster was me! It's odd that in my case I was being nitpicky while you were simply trying to be helpful.

What amused me about that post was that it was such a terribly long run-on sentence, yet in it you were telling everyone how brilliant you are and how stupid they are.

Actually, here's what you said that I commented on:

The ability of some on this board and elsewhere to utterly misunderstand, twist, twirl, and deconstruct a cogent and clear argument, that they cannot apparently comprehend, for their own comfort and agenda and total lack of capacity to conceptualize the reality that they are in a state of war with a cruel and savage enemy is truly impressive in a repulsive and frightening kind of way.

And my response:

That is one helluva run on sentence...

Unless the teacher has been arguing with you and insulting your intelligence, I hardly think the two are comparable. If that were the case, you'd be fully in the right to point out when she was being ignorant.

Sorry, but trying to say that those who disagree with you are doing so because of who you are won't work. There are over 100 posts on this thread and very few of them are from people you argue with on political threads. You could throw out every post that came from someone you have had issues with in the past and it wouldn't change anything. An overwhelming majority think you were wrong to take the issue as far as you did.

Why did you ask for opinions when apparently you didn't want them? It seems that you have a very difficult time accepting and admitting when you are wrong. Isn't that the same complaint you have about the teacher?

 

[mickman1962]

Someone a few pages back had it right see here

 

[JPN4265]

My daughter is going to a very academically exclusive high school. Yesterday, her math (not English, thank goodness) teacher used the word, "Irregardless". My daughter immediately recognized that it wasn't a proper word, of course, but chose not to say anything. Another student piped up, "That's not a word." The teacher said, "Yes, it is." So, a few other students, including my daughter, stated that it was not a word.

The teacher brought a dictionary to one of the other students and had him look it up. The student looked up "regardless" and found it. So, he stated-- incorrectly-- that it WAS a word.

The teacher then said, "I told you it was a word." And, she proceeded to use this 'word' three more times (extra loudly) throughout the class.

What would you do, if anything? I wound up emailing the teacher to let her know it is not a word, but I emailed her anonymously! I included sources.

I guess there are bigger issues in the world, but this high school is one of the top 50 in the country. Opinions?

To me it wasn't that big of a deal. But the students were disrespectful in how they handled the situation. And who cares or what does it matter if it is one of the top 50 high schools in the country. Rude is rude.

 

[Bob Slydell]

That's the part that I have a problem with also - the teacher's attitude. And for everyone who says it was "only" a math teacher, would you feel the same if an English teacher had a hissy fit about insisting that 2+2=5?

I'd be upset that my child's English teacher was attempting to teach something that they had no experience in. But since the Math teacher had no choice but to teach in English, I'm still inclined to give him a pass on the poor choice of one word.

As far as the attitude, yes, it sounds like he was highly unprofessional in the handling of the situation, but we have no way of knowing how annoying the kids may have been in the way they corrected him.

 

[Missy1961]

Someone a few pages back had it right see here

Thank you. I wondered what that meant!

 

[ZuZugal]

What would you do, if anything?

I guess there are bigger issues in the world, but this high school is one of the top 50 in the country. Opinions?

I do not like the use of that word either.

In my opinion you should let it go.

Why? Having the ability to overlook other people's mistakes (that are not harmful of course) is something your daughter must learn before she gets out into the real world (away from mom and dad). What will you do when she begins her first job? She will need to have all of the proper tools in place to deal with all sorts of people and circumstances. Sure, it is okay to have a conversation about her day at school. She is at the age though that she should start handling this type of thing on her own.

 

[LuvDuke]

Mark this thread as another loser, Kendra.

 

[momrek06]

Someone a few pages back had it right see here

WOW..wicked cool..! Had no idea that was even a word.."helicopter parent"...

well...actually, now that we are discussing it and have been for o so many pages...I did NOT even know IRregardless was NOT a word.

I am telling you I learn something NEW every single day on the DIS!!!!


FABULOUS

 

[laura001]

I'm with the OP on this one! "Irregardless" drives me bonkers. It's the double negative in the work that gets to the scientist in me. Oh, and "orientated", that's another word that makes my blood boil!

I am with you here!!!

 

[Beth76]

I really don't care what the issue was. I just have a hard time with a student interrupting a teacher in the middle of class to correct anything. I realize this is an elite school, but is it full of a bunch of pompous brats? Do they think they're more qualified than their college educated instructor? Teachers deserve respect. Sometimes the most important lessons aren't taught to our children.

Hey now. You're the one being disrespectful. The term is Indigo , not brat.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

I love it!

"Um, yes, I am so busy helicoptering my Indigo child."

 

[momrek06]

The term is Indigo , not brat.

Now that is really interesting...indigo...hmmm...DH is an engineer and was just told that one of the MA State's Registries is requesting he use INDIGO INK on plans...

Now why indigo for a brat...I would actually prefer SCARLETT. I have our home phone antenna light up RED when my youngest DS calls because of HIS CONSTANT HIGH MAINTAINENCE, as he is always NEEDING someone to do something for HIM. Older DS lights up green because he is just so calm, cool and collected (most of the time)!!! My In-Laws light up red/green/amber and then I run for the hills . Ya, the Panasonic has that neat feature.

SO SCARLETT in place of INDIGO....!!!!