EDUCATION (or should I say "edgykashun"?)

[Juana Cookie]

While making our weekly trip to the doctor's office this morning, as we were turning off I-95 to go to downtown Jacksonville, there, right before our very eyes, was one of those Neon scrolling signs, with the message BUCKEL UP...IT'S THE LAW. Yes, that's right. Somewhere along the line, someone working for the D.O.T. has changed the spelling of the word "buckle", and forgotten to tell me. I can only guess that it is probably the very same person who wrote the sign for the SHOPING center, that was COMMING soon. Or, at least, I HOPE it was, because I would hate to think that we've become a nation that has become proud of our ignorance.

Now, I am far from being the world's greatest speller. In fact, spelling was always my WORST subject, being that I am dyslexic, and don't always see things as they are. But when I am writing something that I know is going to be seen by a lot of people (like in a blog, or on a message board, etc.), I always try to double check my spelling. If the site does not have spell check, then I either look it up in the dictionary, (or ask the HUMAN dictionary that I'm married to), or try to reword the sentence, using words that I do know how to spell.

I blame this disturbing trend on the standards (or SUB-standards, as the case may be) of our education system. I think more attention should be paid to what children in schools are actually LEARNING, rather than making sure their feelings aren't bruised by keeping them back, if they haven't learned the lessons for their grade. Am I alone in this? It seems that I see these misspelled signs more and more, as time goes on. Has anyone else seen these things? Does it bother you, too?

[Dabbit]

J-Co I dunno wot u's talking bout mate...Sorry couldn't resist! Actually I agree Jo

[Juana Cookie]

Dave, I joke around like that, myself, from time to time (but usually only with people who know me well enough to KNOW that it's a JOKE!--like when I wrote a post to Mark, saying "I are so smart..."). I think it's disturbing to see us put our collective ignorance on display on road signs, etc. This is something that has seemed to be on the rise, the last several years.

[sandy]

I have seen it. And it makes me laugh at first that they could make such a mistake. Then I get angry or upset. It's a shame. I know some people can't spell. My husband was one that spelled the way it sounded. Somethings made you really chuckle but when he was doing something that went into the public. He double checked and had me check also. I learned to read blueprints that way. It has become a loppy world of hurry up and get it done. But the state pays high amounts for those signs and the mistake should have been caught before it was hung. Taxpayers are footing the bill for someones spelling mistake. GRRRRRRR

[Mark]

Everything you all have said is quite true, but it doesn't stop there. I've seen terrible misspellings and grammatical errors on national television ads - even by the so-called big four networks. Don't they even have editors who scan these things before they're laid out before the waiting millions? I mean, once it's out there, it's out there - no one wants to admit it, but there it is - no hiding it. The other day, I noticed on a CBS news show (I was at my mother's, else I would have been watching NBC) and twice, not once, but twice they used the word 'effect', which means 'something brought about by a cause or agent; a result', when they meant (or should have meant) to use the word 'affect' which means 'to have an influence on or effect a change', or vice versa. I mean, close, but no cigars. I will admit that this particular misusage is a particular bete noire of mine, but that's just one particularly flagrant and painfully blatant example of what I'm talking about.

[Juana Cookie]

I guess we really shouldn't expect much better than this, when the man in the big White House can't even properly pronounce the world "NUCLEAR". (Don't get me started on this subject..."NASA" is NOT the same as "Nassau"!!!!)

[Maria]

Do you ever watch Jay Leno when he does one of his opening acts--showing ads with misspelling and double meanings? Pretty amusing and all too sad.

[Mark]

Yes, he does it on Monday nights - Calls it "Headlines"...

[Fluffy]

So many of our young people cannot spell or construct a sentence now, and I blame it on the
time when they changed the way that children are taught, so that now they learn whole words
rather than how they are constructed.

[Juana Cookie]

Jane, here in the States, they have this thing called "No Child Left Behind", which boils down to, that even if a child fails miserably in school, he/she is promoted to the next grade. This is suppose to keep them from getting "bruised egos" and feeling like they are not as good as their peers, who were promoted. My feelings are, if a child can't do the work, then a child should not be allowed to go on to the next grade in school until they can. I don't care HOW many times they have to repeat the third grade. We are not doing them any favors by coddling them. We're only reinforcing the notion that there are no consequences for their actions.

[Mark]

I agree, it's a bad thing. Sounds like a really bad idea all the way around - not everyone is geared for the education system and those that are not should not be rewarded for goofing off. Diplomas should be earned.

[Maria]

josielynn said:

Jane, here in the States, they have this thing called "No Child Left Behind", which boils down to, that even if a child fails miserably in school, he/she is promoted to the next grade. This is suppose to keep them from getting "bruised egos" and feeling like they are not as good as their peers, who were promoted. My feelings are, if a child can't do the work, then a child should not be allowed to go on to the next grade in school until they can. I don't care HOW many times they have to repeat the third grade. We are not doing them any favors by coddling them. We're only reinforcing the notion that there are no consequences for their actions.

The agency I work for provides supplemental service for the students. The No Child Left Behind (a brain child of Bush's) is a real failure. Schools are ranked and even if out of 25 goals, they don't meet one criteria, that are rated as failing. Teachers are teaching more so the kids can pass a test (part of the NKLB) and most creativity in teaching is lost.

The one good thing is that there is some Federal money that helps provide supplemental services--essential tutoring with themes. Kids have to be pretested and post tested for these services. Now the bad part (besides what I have already mentioned) is that the funding is drying up. Schools, at least inner city schools, have had to change whole curriculum's and structure (not always so bad seeing as many of the schools are and were low performing) bases on Bush's plan and will in a few years have no extra cash to implement the program.

On the other hand, so many of our nation's schools are in direr need and our kids are struggling. It is amazing that some kids never go beyond the few blocks, let alone leave their state. Nor have they gone to a museum or experience another enrichment.

I am so lucky that my kids have crossed American way to many time. Both experience their first out of country experience as children, and have so many great learning experiences. My family has been bless.

[sandy]

There are so many things wrong and right with our education system. Bush had a good idea but the schools turned it around and wanting money (which they all do and need) made a mockery of what he was trying to do. Not everyone can spell, no matter how hard they try. But if you can't spell, don't become a sign painter. Not everyone can pronounce words correctly.Some very intelligent people had trouble speaking and it had nothing to do with their education. I'm not sure what should be done with children who are advanced to a higher grade when they can't do the work. I have a very intelligent grandson that this is happening to. But the school is working hard to catch him up and he is making good progress. He does not like school and lets you know it. He would rather be doing what is of interest to him not what he is told. For instance, he wanted to take piano lessons. So his mom hunted up a teacher. The teacher told him not to come back if he wasn't going to practice. I asked him about that. His answer, " I don't need to practice it. I already played it." I think that is his outlook on life. I don't know. But how you get a child like that to pay attention to something he is not interested in or cares nothing about? I don't want to ever be a paid teacher. When I graduated from high school there were students that got there diplomas that didn't really earn them. But most of them somehow managed to make a good life for themselves. Some went on to college and became educators. Some became business owners.Some really surprised you. Some of the ones that graduated top of the class and were expected to do great things. Became nothing. What we are in school is nothing but a starting place for what we became as adults. It is what we learn after we get out of formal school that makes a difference. Yet we need the basics that we are taught at school. I just made a full circle and solved nothing.