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Forums => English & Linguistics => Topic started by: Porter on May 02, 2007, 07:25:14 PM

Title: Activates in the caferteria are unexcecpable
Post by: Porter on May 02, 2007, 07:25:14 PM

A school official in Staten Island sent out a letter (http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_122170425.html) filled with spelling and punctuation errors to parents.  At least they know that the system is working.

Title: Activates in the caferteria are unexcecpable
Post by: kojabu on May 02, 2007, 07:39:22 PM

Oy.  

Title: Activates in the caferteria are unexcecpable
Post by: Jonathon on May 02, 2007, 07:40:42 PM

I think someone should criticize the journalists who wrote that for thinking that grammar includes punctuation. That's just unexcecpable.

Title: Activates in the caferteria are unexcecpable
Post by: Porter on May 02, 2007, 07:46:32 PM

Huh?  Using the word as it means colloquially, and not as a technical term, it definitely includes punctuation.

Title: Activates in the caferteria are unexcecpable
Post by: Jonathon on May 02, 2007, 08:00:28 PM

Yeah, now it is. It's only since language teaching was dumbed down last century that the term expanded from its original definition—the study of word formation and syntax—to mean "any sort of rule related to language, particularly written language. It's a definition you won't find in any dictionary yet. To me it's a sign of how badly the field of language education is suffering; thus, it irks me.

Title: Activates in the caferteria are unexcecpable
Post by: Tante Shvester on May 03, 2007, 05:52:47 AM

I'm more forgiving of orthography gaffes than I am of errors in syntax.  The former may be due to a learning disability, and not reflect on intelligence and education.  But grammatical errors?  Dat jes be iggorint.

That said, if you know that you have a spelling disability, it behooves you to employ a compensatory mechanism, you know, like a spell checker or a secretary.  So, it still reflects poorly on the guy.  I assume that he had to earn a degree in order to get his position.  One wonders how.

Unless someone pranked him by deliberately sabotaging the letter.  In which case, kudos to the kids involved!  Good one! :D  

Title: Activates in the caferteria are unexcecpable
Post by: dkw on May 03, 2007, 08:38:46 AM

Quote

"He's very good with kids. He really is a good dean, he watches over them at lunch time and whenever needed," said Karen Couso, a teacher's aide at the school.

I'm curious as to what the position of "dean" is at this school.  

Title: Activates in the caferteria are unexcecpable
Post by: Jonathon on May 03, 2007, 08:42:49 AM

Good question. We had a principal and two assistant principals, but no deans or anything.

Title: Activates in the caferteria are unexcecpable
Post by: dkw on May 03, 2007, 08:57:36 AM

We had a dean, but lunchroom monitor was not one of his duties.