Oi! Ken Smith! No!

I promise I will write up my activities over the last three weeks. Suffice for the moment to say that they were hectic - Farnborough Air Show, the Motor Show at London and then Essex Jamboree started, all in the same week - and now that I am back at work things will settle down and I will have some time to write something! Apologies to Paul and Goat who pinged me for not updating regular like.

BBC News reported (last Thursday) that Bad spelling ’should be accepted’1.

Ken Smith of Bucks New University says the most common mistakes should be accepted as “variant spellings”.

He lists the 10 most commonly misspelt words, which include “arguement” for “argument” and “twelth” for “twelfth”.

He cites other examples such as judgement (judgment) and truly (truely) along with words that break the “i before e” rule as those that should be accepted rather than corrected.

Mr Smith, a criminology lecturer, said: “Instead of complaining about the state of the education system as we correct the same mistakes year after year, I’ve got a better idea.

Yeah, I’ve got a better idea too. Instead of correcting the same mistakes year after year, make sure the little buggers are better educated at the end of primary school and into their first year of secondary school.

There is no reason to accept bad spelling. Many people claim dyslexia (and I’ve even heard ADHD blamed too). In far too many cases the person seems to believe that the words dyslexia and lazy are interchangeable.

If I were able to expand on my idea a little, bring back a quick rap across the knuckles2 for the little bar-stewards to refuse to try. And don’t tell me the teacher can’t tell the difference between those children that are trying and failing and need help and those that can’t be arsed. I know damned fine they can but they “aren’t allowed to discriminate”.

Hell, let’s go all the way. When adults get it wrong most of them will argue that there’s no point in trying “cos it aint that important”. Every crap excuse should lose them a finger. Then toes. Then major organs. That’ll sort the fuckers. Yes, it is important!

  1. I’m sure there should be more capitals in that article title! ↩
  2. With a wooden or metal ruler. None of this plastic shit! ↩

August 11, 2008 • Tags: , , , • Posted in: Rant

No Responses to “Oi! Ken Smith! No!”

  1. Wolfie - August 11th, 2008

    Couldn’t agree more. To me, poor spelling is unacceptable and needs to be corrected as early as possible. What happened to spelling tests? We used to have those every week when I was in primary school.

    We also need teachers that care. I always remember one English teacher I had who despaired of me - I always spelt ’separate’ wrong, with an ‘e’ after the ‘p’. One day, as I walked into class he walked over to my desk and put down a piece of paper; he walked away without saying a word. He’d written ’separate’ on the paper, with the ‘a’ underlined - I never spelt it wrong again.

    Sometimes a simple little thing like that is all it needs, but because the system has basically ham-strung all the teachers, there aren’t as many around that care any more. Which is the nation’s loss.

    On a side note, why is dyslexia such a difficult word to spell?

  2. George - August 12th, 2008

    It’s not just spelling, it’s the proper use of words as well. Like “there, there and they’re”.
    One other that I can think of is the use of the word “plethora” - too many people use it in the wrong context.
    Also instead of saying “I should have …” they say “I should of ….” etc.
    I could go on and on.

  3. Wolfie - August 12th, 2008

    ” Like “there, there and they’re”. ”

    Oops. Perhaps you meant to put “there”, “their” and “they’re”?

    And, of course, let us not forget “your” and “you’re”.

  4. georgef - August 13th, 2008

    Whoops, you’re so right - I thought I was being so good too!

  5. Nige - August 16th, 2008

    I could not agree more, what we have to realise now is that it is against thier human rights to degrade them in front of thier peers (blame Blair for that).

    I personally cannot stand the so-called text speak used on forums, blogs and the web in general.

    Bring back the ruler and proper detentions (ours were an hour of non-stop PE)!!

    Nige

    PS I have 6 kids, anytime you meet my wife ask what I am like with them.

    A few of you have actually met Becca and I. I think “firm but fair” is a just description.

    Oi Collin, you coming to Castle Combe?

    Nige

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