So angry I could bust!! (Vent)

[KristaTX]

Still learning to write? She's in high school, I think she should be expected to be competent in writing in her native language. Next year she'll be taking the PSATs, which have an entire grammar section.

I think like most people, we are on the same side of the basic argument in this thread.

But oh yes, people are still learning how to write in high school. And by that, I mean how to write well. Why else have English classes that include grammar, vocabulary, and paper writing along with the literature sections? Even in college they are still teaching people how to write well. It may go hand-in-hand with literature, but half the reason for writing papers is to learn how to write better. Kids don't come out of 8th grade knowing it all and how to construct a paper like a college graduate should be able to. Learning to write is a process that doesn't end once one simply knows the very basics of grammar and vocabulary.

 

[Hannathy]

I think like most people, we are on the same side of the basic argument in this thread.

But oh yes, people are still learning how to write in high school. And by that, I mean how to write well. Why else have English classes that include grammar, vocabulary, and paper writing along with the literature sections? Even in college they are still teaching people how to write well. It may go hand-in-hand with literature, but half the reason for writing papers is to learn how to write better. Kids don't come out of 8th grade knowing it all and how to construct a paper like a college graduate should be able to. Learning to write is a process that doesn't end once one simply knows the very basics of grammar and vocabulary.

I can agree with this BUT this was a Bio assignment not an AP History paper. I'm sure we are talking basic sentence structure and punctuation! I also doubt she lost 20% on only mis spelling a particularly tricky Biology related word or 2.

 

[fireflymedic]

Shouldn't a high school freshman kind of have a hang for punctuation, capitalization and grammar by now? Or am I so 5 minutes ago?

I can not nor will I ever be able to spell. I know that will give me D's in english but it should not effect my other classes.

I mean if I know every single fact and can say repeat my history book forbadem you dont think that should get me an A in history when I can right down every word in the book on a test, if I mispell some of the words who cares, this is not english.

Ya I had teachers do the same thing though, also had many a spanking for mispelled words, no recess, had my spelling test posted on the bullenton board so all the other students could see how dumb I was.

Ya I dont care for teachers or schools untill you can prove yourself, my default is teachers are ..... god figures, in there mind anyway.

 

[mjantz]

Going back a few pages but regarding letting little kids spell how they want, I taught K last year. When my students were doing their own writing they were allowed to spell as they wanted but I would correct. In class & in centers they had ample opportunity to see words spelled correctly & write them correctly. Spelling errors can tell us where a kid is struggling & where they need help. Lots of spelling errors follow patterns so you can see the development.

 

[golfgal]

I think that spelling and punctuation are important no matter what class you take. Unless it's P.E. of course.

I don't see why the OP was so upset.

Even PE. If our kids miss a day of PE they have to do a make up assignment and part of that includes a paragraph about what they did. You bet they get graded on spelling, etc.

 

[kaytieeldr]

That is my point. If we failed everyone that couldn't spell, the world would probably be missing some great Dr's, scientists, etc. Math and science use one side of the brain, english, the other side.

There has to be a middle ground. If this is a science class, I think spelling should count, but grammar, get over it. I want a Dr that can cure my disease, not diagram a sentence.

Barring unintended autocorrect, I have an excellent grasp of proper punctuation, grammar, and spelling. I don't remember howto diagram (break down and label) a sentence, but I can still write grammatically correct one.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

I can not nor will I ever be able to spell. I know that will give me D's in english but it should not effect my other classes.

I mean if I know every single fact and can say repeat my history book forbadem you dont think that should get me an A in history when I can right down every word in the book on a test, if I mispell some of the words who cares, this is not english.

Ya I had teachers do the same thing though, also had many a spanking for mispelled words, no recess, had my spelling test posted on the bullenton board so all the other students could see how dumb I was.

Ya I dont care for teachers or schools untill you can prove yourself, my default is teachers are ..... god figures, in there mind anyway.

The people "who care" are the people you are going to want to hire you someday, the people you are going to advocate for your child with one day and the people you are going to want to impress one day.

Face it bub, you write a letter to your girlfriend's parents asking them for her hand in marriage, a cover letter for a job your really want, a letter to your child's teacher, and it's filled with countless spelling, punctuation and grammar errors, they are going to see you as an uneducated bumpkin. True or not.

First impressions count a lot. So if you want to believe your spelling issues aren't a problem, go ahead. Just understand you are wrong.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It's a message board. I really don't expect correct grammar and punctuation, particularly in a "vent" written in anger.

Then again, if I was a biology teacher, I would probably ignore all but the most egregious spelling mistakes. If it is clear enough to be understood, I would possibly correct the mistake, but mark the answer correct.

I am not a naturally good speller (though my grammar is fine) so I do understand how hard it is for some students.

Are you sure about that?

disclaimer: this question is being asked in fun; the subjunctive form of a verb should have been used at one point in the quoted post instead of the verb that was used.

 

[mdsoccermom]

I can not nor will I ever be able to spell. I know that will give me D's in english but it should not effect my other classes.

I mean if I know every single fact and can say repeat my history book forbadem you dont think that should get me an A in history when I can right down every word in the book on a test, if I mispell some of the words who cares, this is not english.

Ya I had teachers do the same thing though, also had many a spanking for mispelled words, no recess, had my spelling test posted on the bullenton board so all the other students could see how dumb I was.

Ya I dont care for teachers or schools untill you can prove yourself, my default is teachers are ..... god figures, in there mind anyway.

Do you really think if you handed an employer something that was written the way you wrote this post, it would be considered acceptable?

Your grasp of your native language - presumably English - pervades every aspect of your life.

 

[Scurvy]

Add me to the list of people who think that the teacher did nothing wrong. Spelling, grammar and punctuation are important. Put down a few wrong letters and you're saying a completely different word, and being precise is very important when dealing with science.

I can not nor will I ever be able to spell. I know that will give me D's in english but it should not effect my other classes.

I mean if I know every single fact and can say repeat my history book forbadem you dont think that should get me an A in history when I can right down every word in the book on a test, if I mispell some of the words who cares, this is not english.

Ya I had teachers do the same thing though, also had many a spanking for mispelled words, no recess, had my spelling test posted on the bullenton board so all the other students could see how dumb I was.

Ya I dont care for teachers or schools untill you can prove yourself, my default is teachers are ..... god figures, in there mind anyway.

Misspelling words might not be a problem in some classes as long as the teacher is able to understand what you were trying to say. It becomes a problem when the teacher can't understand what the misspelled words were actually meant to be. Knowing every fact is important, but in a school setting being able to communicate those facts is even more important. Being able to repeat the history book verbatim is great, but if the teacher can't understand which battle you were attempting to write down because it's so badly misspelled, then it's wrong. I do think it's probably not appropriate for a teacher to post your work on the bulletin board as an example to the other students, but grading someone down for misspelled words is completely appropriate.

 

[ols386]

The people "who care" are the people you are going to want to hire you someday, the people you are going to advocate for your child with one day and the people you are going to want to impress one day.

Face it bub, you write a letter to your girlfriend's parents asking them for her hand in marriage, a cover letter for a job your really want, a letter to your child's teacher, and it's filled with countless spelling, punctuation and grammar errors, they are going to see you as an uneducated bumpkin. True or not.

First impressions count a lot. So if you want to believe your spelling issues aren't a problem, go ahead. Just understand you are wrong.

I agree. Some potential employers won't even review your resume if you have typos or misspelled words in your cover letter.

 

[punkin]

Are you sure about that?

disclaimer: this question is being asked in fun; the subjunctive form of a verb should have been used at one point in the quoted post instead of the verb that was used.

proves my point. message board. never proofread anything. don't bother correcting this post either.

 

[Sparx]

I'm a college student, and with my career choices, I'll likely work in academia for quite a long time after I stop being a student. Most college professors and adjunct professors have to preform research projects like surveys and then write articles about them that will be published for professionals, undergrads, grads and professors in their field. When you have a mathematician writing an article that article is still written in a language. I've had brilliant math professors that couldn't spell their own names. However, they were still published numerous times. They were published because they recognized their weakness in grammar and syntax and spelling and walked down to the English department to find colleagues to help proofread and draft their articles. The same thing happens when sociologists need statistics work done for their articles.

I think if you know that you have a deficiency in an area and you choose to not seek out the help of others with strengths in that area you are not only irrevocably lazy but completely deserving of every point you miss on your assignment.

 

[crashbb]

Barring unintended autocorrect, I have an excellent grasp of proper punctuation, grammar, and spelling. I don't remember howto diagram (break down and label) a sentence, but I can still write grammatically correct one.

Would you like us to point out the errors in your post?

 

[declansdad]

DD14 attends the high school where I am also a teacher. I didn't hand pick her teachers just let her get whomever she was assigned. Big mistake!!! She has a Biology teacher who must have been a college English teacher in another life. My daughter works hard to get the correct answers on a homework assignment, should have gotten a 90 for the content/correct answers. But no, she gets a 70 for punctuation, grammar and capitalization errors. I am livid, so I go talk to my co-work/DD's teacher. She was rude!!!! I told her I thought that get the correct answer in the core subject was the important thing, not grammar etc. She then made the comment, I guess she won't make the same mistake next time. I mean really?? She teaches high school freshman, it is just barely the second week of school. I think she needs to retire!!! Old hag!! Thanks for letting me vent!! I feel better now! Heck, I feel a lot better!!

You are a teacher and you don't see the importance of the correct usage of grammar and spelling. I wouldn't want you teaching my son.

 

[declansdad]

Have your daughter take it up with a counselor.

I probably wouldn't have skipped school so much if I had a bit of help in the right direction. There's a few teachers that come to mind that have made me hate a subject, then I'd skip their class, then I failed and wound up in summer school. Which makes it hard when you need the bases from that class to move onto the next class. Summer school is a joke too, never really learned anything that was taught during the regular school year.

Take what up with a counselor? The need to be able to write properly.

 

[declansdad]

I have no idea if this was the case or has anything to do with the OP.

However, there was a bit ago a pedagogical theory that called for children to spell however they thought something might be spelled and the teacher to allow it without correction. The idea was that expression was important and that mastry of spelling and whatnot would follow more naturally. It's fallen somewhat out of favour, afaik, having been a fairly short-lived trend, but it is still employed, again afaik, some places.

I think that theory was used in the younger grades, not high school.

 

[KimR]

Are you sure about that?

disclaimer: this question is being asked in fun; the subjunctive form of a verb should have been used at one point in the quoted post instead of the verb that was used.

Actually, I think the use of the subjunctive is optional. The only reason I know this is because I was constantly seeing 'if I was', etc in books and it was driving me crazy, so I googled it. (Yes, I'm that much of a nerd). Turns out either is fine. I use the subjunctive, though, because the other just sounds wrong to me.

 

[okeydokey]

Just when I thought I had seen it all, along comes this post. A Mom is furious because a high school teacher expects high school level work? Must be Bizarro Day on the DIS.

 

[rgf207]

You are a teacher and you don't see the importance of the correct usage of grammar and spelling. I wouldn't want you teaching my son.

^ This