WWYD? Teacher using "themself" on the homework page.

[crazy4theworld]

...and roll my eyes over this one. Has anyone who has criticized someone else actually read this thread and noticed all the spelling and grammatical errors??? Pot, meet kettle.

 

[luvmyhubby]

...and roll my eyes over this one. Has anyone who has criticized someone else actually read this thread and noticed all the spelling and grammatical errors??? Pot, meet kettle.

I could not have said it better myself!!!!

 

[luvsJack]

Of course someone with a disability is not worth less than someone without! It would be terrible for someone to even suggest such a thing. But I haven't seen anyone on this thread suggest that.

My son's color blindness doesn't make him any less valuable than anyone else. But there are some jobs that he simply can't do. Not everyone can teach, for a variety of reasons. It doesn't mean that they are worth less than other people - it means that teaching isn't the job for them.

As for Kriii's point about the legality of not hiring someone because of a disability - of course you can't refuse to hire someone (and can't choose to fire them) simply because they have a disablility. That's totally illegal. You can refuse to hire them (or choose to fire them) because they are incapable of performing the job. My son can never be hired to do some things and the fact that he has a disability of sorts doesn't mean that he must be hired anyway, even if he can't do the job. If a teacher can't adequately teach her students, she shouldn't be in the classroom even if the reason she can't do the job is a disability.

But as she has pointed out to you, her disability doesn't stop her from doing her job and doing it well. She is teaching her students, they are learning the subject area she was hired to teach--job done.

 

[Scurvy]

But as she has pointed out to you, her disability doesn't stop her from doing her job and doing it well. She is teaching her students, they are learning the subject area she was hired to teach--job done.

I understand that. If you've read the thread, then you know I have said repeatedly that I am not talking about her. I don't know her situation. I have no idea about her specifically - the parents of her students could think that she is the best teacher that their children have ever had, or they could be writing letters to try to get her removed. I have no clue, and I never claimed to.

I have been speaking in general terms when I say that if someone has a disability that prevents them from teaching correctly then they don't belong in the classroom. I thought I had clarified that enough previously in the thread, but maybe not.

 

[NotUrsula]

OP here with an update. I've now met the teacher. She turns out to be very close to, if not past, retirement age, and she gave me the impression that she's really not very tech-savvy, so I'm sure that she has no clue that this error is lingering out there in cyberspace. I decided that since she really seems uncomfortable with the whole website issue, I wouldn't bring it up. However, I will be watching DS' papers to make sure that she doesn't fail to correct him if he makes the same mistake. He has issues with pronouns.

As to errors here, and things like "ressie", it's a message board, and we are all anonymous. Sometimes I think certain expressions are a bit precious, but as it isn't a professional communication, I don't care. I've got a different standard for recreational message boards than I do for professional communications, and I don't think that is harsh at all. When it comes to work, one should always proofread before publishing.

 

[Schmeck]

What a cruel thing to say! This poster's learning disability with spelling has nothing to do with his or her ability to be a good instructor of science! The poster should be commended for persevering towards becoming a science teacher DESPITE the disability. Also, BTW, it would be illegal to discriminate against hiring this person due to the disability.

If they can't do the job to the standard set, then yes, they can be fired from the job, but only if it puts a burden on the business to accommodate, or if it affects the safety of anyone.

And for goodness sake, you have to be able to read, write and spell to be a good scientist! There are research papers to be written and studied, test results to present, etc. Does no other district have a focus on writing across the curriculum?

After all this is dissected, you will notice that I have stated that as long as the teacher finds a way to teach around the disability, and does not put that burden onto the students in the class, then of course that teacher should be teaching. But do not for one second put that burden onto the student - that teacher is getting payed (with tax dollars) to be a professional, qualified teacher, and has no business being in front of a class if not at that standard.

ETA - I must have missed a page of posts when I last read through this thread. I have never said a person with a disability is less important than someone without one. I actually do not know any one person without a disability of one sort or another. We all have strengths and weaknesses, we all can do some things better than others. Like I stated before, you would not want to ride on a bus if I was driving it, please do not ask me to cook (especially meat) and do not ask me to teach World History.

My focus on this thread was to point out that there has to be some standard of excellence maintained in a classroom, and that to put the burden of obtaining the correct spelling of new terms onto the student was unprofessional. That focus was clarified by the teacher, and it sounds like we are at a level of agreement.

 

[TAKitty]

We all know that teachers aren't perfect, and certainly, we all make mistakes, including typos. I think the difference, particularly in the OP's case, is that the mistakes are on typed papers that are coming home. All teachers (in every subject matter, but especially English teachers), should proofread materials before hitting that print button. Many of the mistakes mentioned in previous posts (kindergarden, for example) would be caught with a simple spell check. If misspellings and incorrect grammar are sent home often, concern is warranted, and I say this as a parent and former teacher.

Just an FYI. . . earlier in this thread you used the words "anyone" with "them." Anyone is singular. You needed to use his or her. Come on people...mistakes happen.

It is threads like these that REALLY make me want to quit my job as an English teacher.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

Just an FYI. . . earlier in this thread you used the words "anyone" with "them." Anyone is singular. You needed to use his or her. Come on people...mistakes happen.

It is threads like these that REALLY make me want to quit my job as an English teacher.

I am not sure why you pointed this out to me, especially since I was defending the fact that people make mistakes. At no time during this thread have I insinuated that I don't make mistakes. My point was that EVERYONE makes mistakes, including me. I still think, however, that documents that are published, including documents that are sent home from school, should be proofread carefully. I would never question a teacher's ability over minor grammatical mistakes that happen occasionally, but I would be concerned about a pattern of errors. I would think any parent would be concerned by continual mistakes; this concern does not make me a negative or judgmental person.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Right now "hungary" is red and underlined as I type this???

Most likely it is because you haven't capitalized the word.

 

[TAKitty]

I am not sure why you pointed this out to me, especially since I was defending the fact that people make mistakes. At no time during this thread have I insinuated that I don't make mistakes. My point was that EVERYONE makes mistakes, including me. I still think, however, that documents that are published, including documents that are sent home from school, should be proofread carefully. I would never question a teacher's ability over minor grammatical mistakes that happen occasionally, but I would be concerned about a pattern of errors. I would think any parent would be concerned by continual mistakes; this concern does not make me a negative or judgmental person.

I only pointed it out because you pointed out a mistake by another person in post 8. My point is that we can go round and round fixing people's mistakes. I am much more interested in what you have to say and not if it is perfect or not.

Also, an English teacher has to know a lot more than grammar and punctuation.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I only pointed it out because you pointed out a mistake by another person. . I am glad that those of you who work never make mistakes.

I NEVER make misteaks.

J/K.

Actually, I am watching my tivo'd Toddlers and Tiaras and a mother with a heavy Southern accident was saying how her daughter would be "decked" out.

Let's just say that with the accent, a short "e" is not what I heard. Made me do a double take.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

I only pointed it out because you pointed out a mistake by another person in post 8. My point is that we can go round and round fixing people's mistakes. I am much more interested in what you have to say and not if it is perfect or not.

Also, an English teacher has to know a lot more than grammar and punctuation.

I wouldn't have pointed out the mistake (post #8) except the person was talking about how much it bothered her because the teacher said "a" wrong. I thought that was a pretty minor thing to point out to a teacher--I wouldn't have said anything otherwise. I was trying to defend the teacher, but I guess it came across as me looking for mistakes.

I honestly don't mind if you let me know I made a mistake. I know I mess up. I do try to use correct grammar and spelling in all my writing, but I tend proof less diligently when writing in a casual setting like a message board.

 

[TAKitty]

I wouldn't have pointed out the mistake (post #8) except the person was talking about how much it bothered her because the teacher said "a" wrong (so the cycle continues). I thought that was a pretty minor thing to point out to a teacher--I wouldn't have said anything otherwise. I was trying to defend the teacher, but I guess it came across as me looking for mistakes.

I honestly don't mind if you let me know I made a mistake. I know I mess up. I do try to use correct grammar and spelling in all my writing, but I tend proof less diligently when writing in a casual setting like a message board.

My point was not to pick on you.

I think that society expects teachers, police officers, fire fighters, doctors, nurses, etc. to be above reproach. We all make mistakes. Some people are better at their jobs than others.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

My point was not to pick on you.

I think that society expects teachers, police officers, fire fighters, doctors, nurses, etc. to be above reproach. We all make mistakes. Some people are better at their jobs than others.

I don't feel like you picked on me. You pointed out my mistake because you felt I had been harsh by pointing out another person's mistake. Of course, the only reason I pointed out her mistake was I felt she had been harsh. It could turn into a vicious cycle, so I am vowing here and now to refrain from pointing out errors on the Dis, no matter the circumstances.

 

[leebee]

(IMHO) People make errors in English grammar all the time, but there is a difference between making a mistake (typo) and not knowing proper usage or spelling. It makes me crazy when I read, "Look at it's color!" An English teacher (preferably ANY teacher) should know about agreement, proper use of apostrophes and commas, and the proper use of common homophones, know how to change a word from the singular to the plural and to the adverb form, hopefully know the correct useage of "between" and "among", and even the "lay/lie/lied, laid" usage. (I get a little confused on this one, but I am a science/math person, so all I can do is apologize and say, "I try!") I think a large part of the problem is that people over-rely on spell-check; if spell check hasn't identified an error, one must not exist, even if the sentence says, "Their going over to they're house too eat there to pizzas, two!" Let's face it, writing "thier" instead of "their" is a typo; confusing "there", "they're", and "their" probably means the teacher doesn't know the difference- or doesn't care. Unfortunately, it happens all the time. Don't get me started on starting sentences with "but", "so", and "and." I will agree that in literary writing and poetry, voice has a place, but I don't agree with teaching children in elementary and middle school to write in voice; they need to know how to use English properly FIRST.