Public Schools/Grammar-Spelling (was: Reputations)

[indieFan]

Originally Posted by Texan

This was just my example of a situation where someone might not be afforded the greatest education. I'm not saying that this is true of all inner cities, it is just a case which may be true in some cases.

No offense intended to anyone. I'm sorry if it does.

As a person who taught 8th grade English in a public school, I am highly insulted by this. All teachers in public schools must be credentialed or working towards their credential. Not all private schools require teachers to have credentials. In addition, much of what I've heard and seen about student problems are a result of parent involvement, not the school. What in your personal history are you basing the idea that private schools are better than public schools?

Re: Incorrect Grammar and Misspellings
I, like M. Krass, have a tendency to be very critical of poor writing skills. (In fact, I often wish that my engineering professors would count grammar skills in the grades.) I was talking to someone from NASA Human Resources (not the proper name anymore) and mentioned how I was once told to minimize the fact that I have a degree in English since I am now getting one in manufacturing engineering. The recruiter's response was "I wouldn't minimize it. One of the biggest problems that we have is engineers not knowing how to write effectively." (paraphrased) The point, and I think I might actually have one, is that the internet has spawned even more issues related to writing and communications than ever before and for young people in high school to be habitually abbreviating, using incorrect grammar, or seeing incorrect grammar without corrections means that it will likely continue in their future simply as a result of habit.

On the other hand, I had noticed someone making the same error in several different posts and finally had enough of it. I sent the person a PM letting him know his mistake. The response I received, which surprised me, was "Thank you for letting me know." I later found out that English was the person's second language.

indieFan

[Ryan M.]

Originally Posted by indieFan

As a person who taught 8th grade English in a public school, I am highly insulted by this. All teachers in public schools must be credentialed or working towards their credential. Not all private schools require teachers to have credentials. In addition, much of what I've heard and seen about student problems are a result of parent involvement, not the school. What in your personal history are you basing the idea that private schools are better than public schools?

I've been in 2 different private schools, one public school, and been homeschooled. I agree that the difference is in parent involvement. I'm sorry that I have insulted you and apologize to anyone else that I've insulted. As I stated, this was just my stereo-typical example of a case where someone, for whatever reason, be it teachers, fellow students/peers, or parents, hasn't gotten the most out of their education.

I apologize sincerely to anyone I may have offended by my badly choosen example.

[Matt Leese]

Originally Posted by indieFan

(In fact, I often wish that my engineering professors would count grammar skills in the grades.)

I had a professor that did so for Electronics lab reports. He actually graded that part of the lab report as opposed to the TA.

Matt

[MikeDubreuil]

The kids I mentor from Boston are simply out of this world bright. During the year, while designing, brainstorming, and working in the lab you can tell they are smart kids.
I was having a conversation with a student from the Boston Latin School, where I was flabbergasted to find that about 25% of their students go on to ivey league colleges and universities. I believe about 25 kids applied to Harvard, 15 were accepted.
Our team mostly consists of students from Boston Latin, Brookline High School, One students father is a candidate for the Nobel Prize.
There doesn't seem to be too much of a difference between either high schools. In fact Brookline, although a public school has an average SAT of 1167.

So to sum things up, we currently do not work with "inner city schools." I think we see students from parents who live and work inside of Boston, who are very high caliber individuals. I think their parents are the ones who shaped the mold for how great they are today.

[Adam Y.]

As a person who taught 8th grade English in a public school, I am highly insulted by this. All teachers in public schools must be credentialed or working towards their credential. Not all private schools require teachers to have credentials. In addition, much of what I've heard and seen about student problems are a result of parent involvement, not the school. What in your personal history are you basing the idea that private schools are better than public schools?

As a teenager in a public school I have to say few teachers make an effort with spelling and grammar. Some teach how to spell by sounding the word out which is uterly useless. I managed to write an eight page research paper in one day and get an 80 on it. This happened in an honors class. My brother's teacher rarely goes over any of his papers. The only really good English class I had was a college corse. He makes everyone redo the papers if they have really bad mistakes on it. This method really helps people learn from their mistakes.

[gsensel]

I recently turned in a paper on Molecular genetics and the Prof. stated in the requirements he would not read a paper with bad grammar, he would return it and you would have 3 days to correct it and submit it again.

[c-squared_2006]

I always get points off for my awful grammar in English class. It really helps to have a buddy correct the paper before turning it in. Or just read the paper out loud, sometimes that really helps. If a teacher encourages proper grammar then things are good. But the modivation to use proper grammar should come from within the student.

[Ryan Albright]

As many of the CD people know i have horrible mechanics and grammer. When i have to write up a report or a lab i have to have a friend look it over. English just isnt my strong point and i have been doing alot better now then when i first started to post.

[Adam Y.]

As many of the CD people know i have horrible mechanics and grammer. When i have to write up a report or a lab i have to have a friend look it over. English just isnt my strong point and i have been doing alot better now then when i first started to post.

My english always told me,"Think of what a person in the subway would do if you read him your report."

I recently turned in a paper on Molecular genetics and the Prof. stated in the requirements he would not read a paper with bad grammar, he would return it and you would have 3 days to correct it and submit it again.

That is some teacher. I did not think any college teacher would do that.

[Yan Wang]

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Translation: "It's the Internet which completely depreciates our grammar and writing skills. Not public education."

I don't think any blame can be put on public education regarding this topic. In general, it's more about personal initiative to do work as to make progress - this goes for anything.

[Jason Kixmiller]

I couldn't agree more. There is a saying "You can lead a horse to water but can't make him drink." I feel this is true in nearly every aspect of life. While an encouraging and skillful teacher can be extremely helpful, I feel that much of the lack of education is largely due to the lack of personal responsibility that can be found in many students. Teachers are often some of the most passionate professionals, and teaching a student can only be a two way street. If one were to truly desire to further one's education, it shouldn't be solely the job of the teacher, but the job of the student as well.

[shyra1353]

ive been to a private school most of my life and now im in a public school. im not talking on a general level here ... but teachers at my school this year dont really care about grammar and spelling except for English class. my bio teacher last semester honestly didnt care. and my physics teacher this semester only cares because he is British and he was penalized for every detail (that is what he says, not me ...) i remember when i was younger in elementary school (at a private school) my teachers were always so picky about spelling (more than grammar). we would lose half a mark for each spelling mistake and i remember one of my friends failed a test because he made so many spelling mistakes ... in grade 4.

Originally Posted by Yan Wang

Translation: "It's the Internet which completely depreciates our grammar and writing skills. Not public education."

I don't think any blame can be put on public education regarding this topic. In general, it's more about personal initiative to do work as to make progress - this goes for anything.

i agree .. anyone who has talked to me on msn/aim knows how bad of a speller i am. i really only spell properly for CD and school ... and i only use proper grammar for school

[Tytus Gerrish]

i build robots, not sentenses.

grammer and spelling is hard when your excited about robots espicaly when your me and are completely obsessed and on top of that Deslixic and ADHD. I try to spell things right and make shure they make sence and would make my grandmother proud. sometimes i have to use the Edit function on the threads ... well not sometimes almost all the time because i dont always catch everything. And yes i have gotten bad reps for spelling and its a major pain especily when you get 3 in a row from the same guy, thats just annoying because you have to give reps to 14 otther people before you can give reps to the same person again.

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by indieFan

(In fact, I often wish that my engineering professors would count grammar skills in the grades.)

My Professors/TAs certainly grade with grammar in mind at RIT in the EE department. I can't remember it so much in the 1st and second year classes (Digital Systems, Circuits) but in the 3rd year and up, it certainly is a factor (Electronics, Controls, E&M, etc). If your lab report isn't written decently, you won't get a decent grade.

I like to think that I have decent grammar (coming from a house with an English teacher and a grammar curmudgeon) but I know I need to continually check it.

My only public education was two years at a community college, so I won't comment on the main topic of this thread.