This column was recently published in Newsday. It was written by a high school freshman and explains why teachers need to write professionally. Do you think her point is valid? Are a few occasional mistakes okay, it's not a big deal, after all teachers are only human? Have standards been relaxed? Are students learning what they should in school? Are today's teachers good role models?
Newsday.com
EXPRESSWAY: A memo to my 'teacher's (sic)'
BY JANINE PERRI
Janine Perri lives in Holbrook.
May 31, 2008
As a freshman attending one of the larger school districts on Long Island, I always expected to receive an excellent education from a staff of knowledgeable teachers and administrators. Recent events, however, have prompted me to think otherwise.
In a stairwell near the library of my high school, I noticed a flier: "Future Teacher's Party! All member's must attend!" I was shocked at the misspellings - teacher's instead of teachers or teachers', and member's instead of members. The fact that the "member's" and "teacher's" involved with the flier were part of the Future Teachers of America Club was sheer irony.
I don't know if the flier was created by a teacher or by a "future teacher," but I was amazed that such mistakes could pass by unnoticed in an institution filled with instructors who are supposed to further my education.
When the flier was taken down and shown to the administrator who will be the principal of the school next year, he couldn't find the errors. His response when they were pointed out to him? A mere shrug and a claim that "everyone makes mistakes."
While this is certainly true, there's a difference between making an occasional mistake that can be overlooked and complete carelessness. Had such a mistake happened only once, it could be disregarded. But misspellings tend to be common in the district.
A flier hanging in the school hallways earlier this year advertised the upcoming comedy show auditions, asking, "Do you think your funny?" This mistake (your instead of you're), unlike the recent one, was noticed, as a piece of paper with a correction was taped over the misspelling a few days later.
Several years ago, an elementary school billboard "congradulated" the winners of a spelling bee, while "kindergarden" registrations were taking place in another elementary school in the district.
I'm sure my district isn't the only one with this problem. Misspellings and mistakes reflect poorly on a school district, showing the carelessness of educators and administrators. If misspellings are common, what does that say about the education that students are receiving?
Poor spelling and grammatical errors make people seem uneducated. What will the colleges the students apply to think? What about their future employers?
As for the "member's/teacher's" flier, I can't believe that, in a building filled with upwards of 300 educators, no one seems either to have noticed the mistake or brought it to the attention of the administration. If students are expected to uphold certain standards with grammar and spelling, shouldn't teachers do so as well? If teachers are unable to find simple mistakes that are unacceptable for an elementary student, how well are they really teaching us?
It makes you question today's teaching standards and wonder how much students actually learn in school, compared with how much know-ledge they gain on their own.
Copyright © 2008, Newsday Inc.
24 comments:
I loved this editorial when I read it and showed it to both of my daughters. They laughed because at ages 12 and 13, both of them have been picking up spelling errors or testing errors sent home from their schools all the time. My older daughter just participated on Friday in the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged as a volunteer staffer to help assist and cheer the athletes. She received a t-shirt that says "Athlete's Supporting Athletes" at the top of the shirt and "Empire Games for the Physically Challenge" at the bottom of the shirt. I try to stress the importance of proper grammar and spelling to them as they write essays, homework, etc. I do believe that standards have been relaxed due to the introduction of technology that checks the spelling and grammar by the click of a "mouse." Unfortunately, it cannot differentiate between words spelled correctly but used incorrectly. I would like to see the responses that this editorial receives, and more importantly, the responses that Janine Perri receives at her school.
Christine OBrien
It is quite insane that today spelling and grammar are sometimes overlooked by the people who are supposed to be stressing their importance. In an age where everything has an abbreviation and people are completely reliant on their spell checks it makes me worry about our future teachers of America. I’ve seen the abbreviations such as “idk” “ur” in student’s papers and wonder how they thing they will be taken seriously when they graduate and move on to college. Not only does it make the students look bad but it reflects poorly upon the teachers and schools. I was amazed that the administrator shrugged off the mistakes in the flier when the student pointed them out. Not only should that administrator have been upset about the mistakes, but pleased with the student who not only realized them but found it important and brought it to the attention of the staff.
-Jamie-
I think it's great that Christine's children realized the mistakes in the flier and on their t-shirts. At least there is hope for some!
-Jamie-
Teachers nurture students' skills
This letter is in response to Janine Perri's essay, "A memo to my teacher's (sic)," [Expressway, May 31].
I am an English teacher at Bay Shore High School. I have seen my share of horrendous misspellings and grammatical glitches in my day. I realize that it can be quite frustrating to witness such blatant ignoring of the rules of "proper English," particularly if those rules are so base and common.
One may question, however, how this young student can make such a blanketed assumption that she is receiving a poor education as a result of having to tear down a school flyer. Her teachers are more than qualified. They are burned out from correcting so many grammatical and spelling errors. They are growing weary from the new "technical" language (i.e. "texting"). Perri is very well-spoken for a young woman her age. I have to inquire as to who is responsible for nurturing her skills? Could it be her teachers?
Jennifer Motl
East Patchogue
I read Newsday regularly and am amazed, but never surprised, at the greed and corruption exposed on a nearly daily basis. Janine Perri's essay nailed it right on the head.
Those who are employed to teach our children or administer standards have their priorities in what's in their wallet first and teaching second. At budget time we hear the automatic response, "This is for the benefit of the children" or "We need to attract the best qualified people for the job."
I firmly believe that a happy employee is a productive one, but how much money is enough? Until we start believing in the big picture - consolidation of school districts - the public will continue to be bled.
Timmy S. Grippo
Nesconset
I thought others in class might be interested in the responses that Janine's editorial has produced. One is from a teacher and the other is from a town resident who seems to be unhappy with his taxes. The teacher's response that perhaps her teachers are burnt out from doing so many corrections should not have any relevance to the fact that there were misspellings in a flyer produced by the school.
I agree with Jamie's response regarding the administrator. Not only should he have addressed the matter, but he should have commended Janine's reaction to something that reflects poorly upon her school. He also does not know the politically correct response to this type of situation. If he did not want to address the matter, he should have responded, "I will look further into this matter and address all parties involved." He should not have shrugged and said "Everyone makes mistakes."
Christine OBrien
This article is completely justified. I’m just surprised a ninth grader not only noticed the mistakes, but actually cared enough to point them out in a newspaper article. Too bad the schools don’t have more students like her. As a graduate student and future teacher, it irritates me that teachers are unaware of simple grammatical rules. I am not a self-proclaimed expert by any means. However, I am aware of the fact that when there are two sentences clumped into one, it’s a run-on sentence. I recall sitting through years of grammar lessons. Kids today can’t even tell you what a noun and verb are, through no fault of their own. With that said, my only hope is that I don’t have any errors in this posting!
~Andrea A.
This article is very unique, especially for a freshman in high school to be writing. She seems like the type of student who is ready to blame the teachers for anything and everything that goes wrong, just like so many parents do.
However, she does have a point. Even the flyers that were put up in college included some errors from time to time. Whenever I write something home to students or write something for a paper where I know people will see it/read it I become paranoid. I have at least 2 people read it over.
I don’t agree that a freshman is questioning the teaching standards at least not for our generation of teachers. Compared to years ago the standards have risen substantially (amount of school and tests) and many teachers who are in the system now would never go through what we are going though. Sure, there are certainly some people teaching who shouldn’t be (that happens in all professions), but to make the generalization is not right.
At the end she questions the amount of learning done in school versus outside of school on their own. It’s a good question. However, we all know there are different types of learners and different things work for different people. I am a firm believer that the lessons learned outside of the classroom are life lessons, some that could never be learned in a classroom, but then again who doesn’t remember their high school years, good or bad?!
I think the problem is that too many people have too much on their plates. It seems like people are always rushing and that is probably a huge part of the problem. If someone, teacher, administrator or student would take a few extra minutes to look at something like a flyer we would not be blogging about this.
Jennifer Motl and Christine O’Brien,
Very interesting point! Well taken. I didn’t quite see it that way when I first read the article, but I can’t really argue with Jennifer’s point. Janine Perri had to have learned from somewhere. I imagine it’s a compilation of her education, her natural abilities, and outside sources.
~Andrea A.
andrea, i agree with you that it is too bad there are not more students who speak up. hopefully it will be an example for others to follow.
i remember sitting in english class years ago and walking out of my class not retaining anything that had to do with grammar. i think it is something that has been overlooked and covered too quickly for years. the english language is the hardest to learn because there are so many rules - how can anyone keep them all straight!?!?!
Wow! “Everyone makes mistakes“, this is true but these are mistakes that could have been prevented with a little proofreading. I am not a good speller so I make sure to check my spelling with spell check or a dictionary. Sometimes, I will even have others proofread something for me. As teachers and future teachers, we need to set an example for the students. There are many tools available to double check spelling and grammar. Use them! We will expect the same from our students. Anne M.
I believe Janine's editorial was a point well taken. As educators, we really do have to be careful about our writing. People do judge us more harshly than other people. Especially parents-they feel if we are teaching their children we should know how to spell. Sometimes we need someone else to look over our letter or flyer to just double check for what we may feel is a small error.
Joanne V.
Very good point Jenna-lyn about how people have too much on their plate. I agree that some of the mistakes are probably because someone was in a rush just needed to get something done.
I also do the same thing as Jenna-lyn and have others proofread what I have written before submitting them. Anne M.
I really enjoyed reading this article. It gave me a glimpse of how teachers are human and can occasionally make mistakes. I thought I was alone! I believe since technology has advanced so much, our educational system has become more laid-back. However, teachers should know the content they are teaching their students. If they are making constant grammatical mistakes on fliers, what mistakes are they making in the classroom? I think its okay to make mistakes, as long as they are addressed and the teacher is aware of what he/she did wrong. Isn’t that what learning is all about anyway?
~Ida Elizabeth
Joanne V,
I also agree that teachers are judged more frequently, especially by parents. Teachers should be less careless when writing something that will be viewed by a large amount of people. It is their responsibility to correct their students and that should be the case for them as well.
~Ida Elizabeth
From my experience, nothing makes a student happier than when they correct my spelling (or any mistake I make). I’ve been known to flop around an occasional letter here and there, but in no way do I think this has ruined the knowledge gained in my classroom. The instance in the article is a little different; the flier was posted around the school for all to see. Do I think it is unforgivable? No. People do make mistakes and I don’t think creating an environment where mistakes are shunned is a good one for education. Do I agree with how easily the administrator shrugged it off? No. He should have congratulated the girl and brought it to the attention of the author. Bottom line is, we have become laid back with spelling and grammar and as professionals we need to remember to proofread.
Future teachers- the best defense when you mess up is: “Nice catch, I put that in there to see who was thinking critically!” and then award bonus points. They will never know…
B. Ritchie
This think this student’s point was very valid and it is a “VERY BIG DEAL”. Everyone does make mistakes but a notice posted on a bulletin board must be totally correct especially a notice regarding future teachers of America! Teachers are human and yes, we can al make mistakes but this is even more reason to have things proof read carefully. Most teachers are good role models but in any professions you will get slackers who do not live up to the role. I remember while I was observing last semester, an 8th grade teacher had each of his students write an autobiography with illustrations. These books were displayed in the hallway during parent conferences for all to read. While reading some, I noticed so many errors in punctuation, spelling and usage. It bothered me terribly that this teacher did no take the time to fully correct each student’s work. I actually thought less of him as a teacher and could not believe that he would let these mistakes go uncorrected. I am not saying I myself am a good speller or use the best grammar, but that’s why we have computers and friends to proof read our work.
J.DiBrita
From my point of view, the student's comment is very valid and there is no excuse to ignore that type of mistakes. In this current multitask world, some professionals become forgetful and apathetic to maintain a high standard required not only by the New York State but by the students as well. Therefore, It is critical to consider what we are offering as teachers.JM
Wow! Everyone made great points. Yes, all educators should use spell check. However, sometimes computers alter the writing and the grammar. Thus, it is also important to have someone proof read information before it goes to print. Many of the comments were very harsh. Yet, what I found most interesting was the fact that a few of the harsh comments were grammatically incorrect too. So, while I praise the students for recognizing spelling errors, I also believe that we humans make mistakes. Unfortunately, the principal made the biggest mistake; he or she should have praised the students.
Valerie F.
The student has a point. To be honest, though, that is not what really caught my attention. What really caught my attention was the fact that there was a student who cared enough to write a letter to the newspaper about this issue. I teach in a school that I am sure this would not happen in. To return to the topic at hand, I think that this student is right. Teachers should be help accountable. That is not to say that we are superhuman and that all of us can spell and write superbly. We all have strengths and weaknesses in different areas. I would say that while teachers should not necessarily be held accountable for all forms of communication (inter-office memos and the like would be exempt), they should be held accountable for anything that is going to be posted. We are, whether we like it or not, role models in all that we do. This should include taking pride enough in the words that we post to make sure that they are spelled and arranged correctly. None of us, I hope, would think of coming to school dressed in the way that the students do or speaking in the way that they do, we should not think it acceptable to write in the way that they do either. The hope is that through setting an example we are not only teaching the students the content we have been hired to teach, but we are teaching the life skills that they may not be getting anywhere else. Now. Hopefully I haven't misspelled or messed up my grammar anywhere in this post...
I agree, Valerie! It is not enough to leave the proof-reading to the computer. I used to be a journalism major and worked at a newspaper for a time. We learned quickly that while a computer might pick up the spelling mistakes, it will not pick up intent or meaning. There is nothing better than a set of well-trained human eyes to make sure a written piece is ready to be unleashed upon the masses. Another good reason to let someone else proof-read your work is simple conversation. Our digitized world has become so isolated and compartmentalized that we barely remember how to talk face to face and build a relationship the old fashioned way. Asking someone for their help, whether it be through proof-reading or some other means, allows us to talk to one another and build not only on our knowledge of how to do something but on our knowledge of someone else.
As I read this article, I could not help but completely agree with the author. If we as teachers have certain expectations of students, we too should abide by those rules. In today’s schools, teachers and students alike already abide by dress codes, drug rules (i.e. teachers cannot smoke a cigarette on school grounds), and behavioral rules. Why aren’t these rules extended to the academic realm? I understand that everyone makes mistakes and “typos” can occur when creating a test. However, when there is a flyer being posted for all of the school to see, the grammar and spelling should be proper. I do not believe it is fair that teachers, and administrators (as seen in this case), can pick and choose the rules by which they wish to abide. Teachers are extremely important role models for children and if they show a lack of concern for their work and efforts, is it really fair to ask the same of students? Why should teachers be exempt from spelling and grammatical errors while students are consistently held accountable? Furthermore, spelling and grammatical errors create an aire of unprofessionalism. Second, it creates the feeling that whoever created the flyer did not take the time and effort to do it correctly. There are so many tools available to correct these simple mistakes, but they appear to be often overlooked. Personally, I understand that everyone makes mistakes and that no one is perfect. When it comes to education and professionalism, however, there is no excuse for looking the other way on an issue such as this.
I agree with Jamie stating that “it’s great that Christine’s children realized the mistakes in the flier and on their t-shirts.” Christine’s example helps to show that there are many educated children out there who take notice of the mistakes teachers and adults make. Their ability to identify and recognize mistakes shows much promise for our future students. I also think it’s good that Christine’s children laughed about the situation, understanding that it is not the end of the world, but at the same time an issue that must be addressed. It is unfortunate that these mistakes are often made because many of the mistakes made could easily be avoided if the author had taken the time to either proofread their work, or have someone proofread it for them.
I am a little torn by this article, I guess I am on both sides. Working in a school, I come across many errors made by teachers, however, I would not refer to these mistakes as careless. Students can push teachers to become burnt out. Now a days, I find students to be disrespectful, lazy, and often times unreceptive. Yes, I do agree that teachers should be extra careful when printing out fliers to distribute around the school and it’s disturbing that no other teachers or the principal didn’t pick up on the mistakes however; in this generation I believe that with all the texting and blogging spelling seems to be a common mistake. Not to mention we are human and do make mistakes!
Lisa M.
I 100% agree with Jennifer. It is wrong to assume that the entire faculty is not qualified. Many people don’t realize how difficult it is to teach in schools. It’s not only about educating your students anymore it’s also about how to deal with your students who are growing up in a world that is not so innocent anymore.
I agree with needing to stress the importance of grammar and spelling, especially in an educational setting. Correct conventions is as important today as it ever has been, but schools have been increasingly lenient as time passes, for whatever reason. However, I do not agree with Janine’s questioning of the intelligence and standards of her teachers. She should not be coming to conclusions about her educators over a few simple spelling mistakes. I attend Sachem East and our faculty is very caring and intelligent; they put a lot of time and heart into teaching their students, including Janine. She also questions how well our teachers actually teach, which has absolutely nothing to do with flyers and errors last time I checked. While some may say that the mistakes on fliers reflect their teaching skills in the classroom, I disagree. In my opinion, I think that Janine over-reacted with the whole situation. Also, many of the posters around the school are created by students, so this whole article is basically void.
And what’s with everyone saying how the administrator should have ‘congratulated’ Janine? No one likes a nit-picker. :)
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