Is spelling old fashioned?

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by Lee

I agree.... the other one I really dislike now is "yeah", when it is used at the end of a sentence after a short pause..... I think it means they have forgotten how to talk, or run out of words to use!

"I went out, like, for a walk and, like, went to the shops to, like, get something to eat, like..... yeah... "

Another one that gives me the pip is "Ya Know" in the middle and end of sentences, and any where in between.
I am guilty as any one else, but want to kick myself for saying it

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Omaroo

Are you implying that current school kids are not taught good old "running writing" as part of their standard curriculum any more? I can't believe that, surely!

Chris,

If by good old running writing you mean what I learnt 50 years ago, then yes. Even that was not the immaculate copperplate my Mum still writes.

My sisters, two and four years younger, were taught Cursive and then Modified Cursive. Printed capitals, no loops on b,f,g,... but joined.

SWMBO is an Assistant Principal at one of the nearby Primary Schools and has taught writing for over 30 years.

She thinks NSW Foundation Style has been in use for over 20 years but can only find a syllabus dating back to 1997. See the last page of http://k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/...nglish_syl.pdf

Most letters join, some don't.

[ngcles]

Hi All,

Originally Posted by Omaroo

Are you implying that current school kids are not taught good old "running writing" as part of their standard curriculum any more? I can't believe that, surely!

So far as I'm aware "joined-up writing" is no longer taught. My daughter finished the HSC last year, primary school in 2002 and there was not a jot.

When she saw "running writing" for the first time (my missus still uses it habitually), she thought it quaint, in a similar vein to a record that had music on both sides -- that was utterly astonishing.

I guess it comes back to the fact that there must be insufficient room in the syllabus because there are so many other really important things to be taught these days in primary school

It also goes back to your earlier quite correct observation Chris, about the appalling standard of the teachers. If they can't do it, how can they teach the kids?

I could tell you a story or two about high-school science teachers in the public system that were involved in my daughter's "education", but I'll leave that for another time ...

Originally Posted by Octane

If there is one thing that really annoys me, as far as language is concerned, it is the use of the term^ "tweet(s)" in reference to the vermin that is Tw*tt*r.

^ I use the word "term", loosely.

Twitter should instead be called "minutiae" (for that is what it is). The individual posts then become "minutes" ?


Best,

Les D

P.S Even better, in the spirit of "Twitter" and "Tweet" it could be re-named "Minutiae" and "Manure"??

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

One of the most important and valuable things I ever learned in school was the ability to write in traditional cursive handwriting, taught by an absolute master of the art, Mr Daly from Winmalee Public School in the Blue Mountains.

I look at the scrawls that pass for writing these days and shudder as to where we are headed.

Every time (and I mean EVERY) my family buys a birthday card or needs to write a note to a teacher etc, it is invariably my writing that goes on it, which to me, is a compliment not only to me, but to Mr Daly who taught me over 30 years ago.

A handwritten card or letter in cursive script it often treasured above a printed one and relatives have often commented how beautiful it is to receive such a lovely written card with some interesting and well presented wishes, rather than just "Dear you, Happy Birthday, from Us"

All of this may sound a bit self centred and self important but I honestly am proud of the skills I have in spelling and writing and value them. Being able to express yourself clearly and intelligently is a valuable asset to have, sadly one which is rapidly declining and soon may disappear altogether....

A perfect example of the ever widening gap between generations was highlighted to me at work recently when I was talking to a colleague who is 24 years old (my junior of 15 years). I told her that the information she had requested of a customer was probably moot now because she already figured out the answer. She looked at me blankly and asked "moot? what the heck is moot?". It took over 15 minutes to try and explain it to her.

And I don't event think it's possible to explain irony to my wife, I have tried and tried and failed a number of times, she just doesn't get it. Ironic isn't it?

Cheers

Chris

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by koputai

The other old chestnut that keeps popping up, quite regularly on IIS, is the 'bought' versus 'brought', as in, "I went to the shop and brought a new scope".
Aaaaarrrrrggghhhhhh!!!!

What I see increasingly nowadays that I never used to see is interchanging of 'to' and 'too'.

eg: "I'm going too the pub."
"Can I come to?"

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by Screwdriverone

She looked at me blankly and asked "moot? what the heck is moot?". It took over 15 minutes to try and explain it to her.

The number of times I have seen written "the point is mute."

Argggghhhh!

[marki]

In WA schools it appears about half the primary teachers teach cursive or running writing whilst the others seem to concentrate on printing alone. Makes it very interesting when they get to high school in respect to how I write notes on the board. For me my printing is shocking due to nerve damage affecting my fine motor skills (had it all my life) but due to a lot of practice (and I mean a lot) I can produce decent script when writing cursively. If I print it is difficult for most to read, if I write cursively only half the class can read it . My answer is to use overheads or power point to get the message across.

As for spelling, educational theory has tossed the use of phonics out the window. Why can't kids spell??? There is your answer. It is only now coming back into vogue as the academics and theorists who pushed it out find they cannot read the work of their students. Grammer whats that????

Mark

[kinetic (Steve)]

Miaplacidus's post:

Thoroughly entertaining and cleverly written.
Most of the points he makes might have been lost in translation
if not for my tenuous grasp of English.

I have to just add one more thing though that bothers me:

Originally Posted by Omaroo

He entered the men's room with an armload of people's clothing.

This bloke is obviously up to no good!
I would be calling security!

Steve

[renormalised (Carl)]

And I don't event think it's possible to explain irony to my wife, I have tried and tried and failed a number of times, she just doesn't get it. Ironic isn't it?

Chris, just tell her her irony is in the "cupboardy", and she'll get it

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Originally Posted by renormalised

Chris, just tell her her irony is in the "cupboardy", and she'll get it

HA HA HA HA HA

Nice one Carl,

Although, I probably won't say that, I know my place....the correct answer to anything the wife says is "Yes dear"

Cheers

Chris

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Originally Posted by marki

In WA schools it appears about half the primary teachers teach cursive or running writing whilst the others seem to concentrate on printing alone. Makes it very interesting when they get to high school in respect to how I write notes on the board. For me my printing is shocking due to nerve damage affecting my fine motor skills (had it all my life) but due to a lot of practice (and I mean a lot) I can produce decent script when writing cursively. If I print it is difficult for most to read, if I write cursively only half the class can read it . My answer is to use overheads or power point to get the message across.

As for spelling, educational theory has tossed the use of phonics out the window. Why can't kids spell??? There is your answer. It is only now coming back into vogue as the academics and theorists who pushed it out find they cannot read the work of their students. Grammer whats that????

Mark

Seems that you have to "dumb" down the lesson by typing it out so people can read it? That's where things are sliding, unfortunately.

By the way, grammer is spelled g r a m m a r. Sheesh! Irony again!

p.s I reckon you whould change the caption under your name to: "Good News Everyone!" As this is what I think every time I see your avatar...

Cheers

Chris

[renormalised (Carl)]

Although, I probably won't say that, I know my place....the correct answer to anything the wife says is "Yes dear"

A little bit of irreverence never goes astray

[Jen]

Originally Posted by Screwdriverone

HA HA HA HA HA

Nice one Carl,

Although, I probably won't say that, I know my place....the correct answer to anything the wife says is "Yes dear"

Cheers

Chris

[marki]

Folks, the loss of literacy amongst youth is due to the study of English becoming a study of sociology. The basics are no longer considered important, drills and skills have moved into the distant past, comprehension and application rule. I am not being sexist here but this kind of thought is linked strongly to the feminisation of most curriculum now taught in most states.

Mark

[renormalised (Carl)]

The basics are no longer considered important, comprehension and application rule.

Thereby, in not teaching the correct use of the language, even the comprehension and application of the language have become lacking. If not almost non-existent.

[marki]

Originally Posted by renormalised

Thereby, in not teaching the correct use of the language, even the comprehension and application of the language have become lacking. If not almost non-existent.

You will get no argument from me Carl, even the older english teachers are screaming over here but it falls on deaf ears. The kids are expected to deal with material that needs a good thirty years of life experience to begin to understand. It's a total disaster and many new teachers (including english) are basically illiterate themselves. When we write reports they are cross checked by several staff members before going out to parents. Some of the comments are simply rubbish in terms of spelling, grammer and tense. I won't say who the worse offenders are though .

Mark

[renormalised (Carl)]

One way to fix that, Mark (and make the idiots sit up and take notice). Refuse to teach, point blank, and state your reasons why. Make a huge hullabaloo about it and spread it as far and wide as you can. Get it in the national media. Show up the academics in their little ivory towers and the (equally ignorant) politicians who implement the garbage in legislation. Get everyone who's concerned about the state of our education system to support the drive to get back to educating our kids properly and stop filling their heads with the nonsense they promulgate these days.

[sjastro]

Has anyone considered the unpalatable option, the reason why kids are struggling at school is that the human race is becoming dumber and dumber.

Steven

[Robh (Rob)]

You know we live in a democratic society. The masses have decided that education is boring and essentially irrelevant. So after a generation or two, they've decided to dumb things down a bit and make it easier for everyone. Now, it doesn't matter if there is nothing to get excited about in education. The masses have an unlimited supply of entertainment to fill their lives and keep them happy. As a consequence, the young aspire to become entertainers, movie or rock stars or professional sportsmen, who, of course, earn millions of dollars every year. Our esteemed leaders are quite happy with this status quo as the masses don't wish to waste their time thinking about important policies and are keen to leave all the "boring" decisions to the experts.

Rob.

[marki]

Originally Posted by renormalised

One way to fix that, Mark (and make the idiots sit up and take notice). Refuse to teach, point blank, and state your reasons why. Make a huge hullabaloo about it and spread it as far and wide as you can. Get it in the national media. Show up the academics in their little ivory towers and the (equally ignorant) politicians who implement the garbage in legislation. Get everyone who's concerned about the state of our education system to support the drive to get back to educating our kids properly and stop filling their heads with the nonsense they promulgate these days.

Carl, we have just finished and won a 15 year battle to overturn and remove bad educational theory from curriculum in WA. Basically it came down to a group of chem and physics teachers who would not give up no matter how much flak they copped. This stuff is enshrined in law over here and the last state govt had to be removed before any progress could be made. As a result people are just tired or have left the sector in search of a better life. I really don't know if the teaching proffession in WA has enough left to take on another fight like this. I imagine it is similar in many other states as well. At least the national standards testing has forced some welcome change and it appears to be going in a big circle all on it's own. Problem is that there are a lot of people (read your children) that have received a substandard level of education in the last 15 or so years, all in the name of a bunch of misguided do gooders. Makes me very angry.

Mark