[HPFGU-OTChatter] Digest Number 942

[Greg Johnson]

>GulPlum wrote:
>
> > Incidentally, and I don't mean to talk down to anyone but I'm
> > curious: do American schools not teach proper use of apostrophes any
> > more? (In particular when to use "it's" -v- "its", and correct usage
> > of "there/their/they're" or "your/you're".) Even in HPFGU I
> > frequently find people who seem to be native speakers who appear
> > never to have been taught the difference.

Sigh -

You did hit a sore spot with me, GulPlum, and I must reply.  Let me say 
first, that I did major in English, minored in Elementary Education, and 
found diagramming sentences an enjoyable activity.  Although, I would not 
want to diagram the sentence I just wrote.  When I write in these chat 
groups, it is in "free form." Often, whatever is on top of my head comes 
out, and though I may proofread it for spelling errors and huge grammatical 
mistakes, I do not edit heavily.

I have taught for 10 years.  In those years, I taught 1st and 2nd grade, 
plus one year of hell in 6th.  I was ashamed to see that most of my first 
and second graders knew more about nouns, verbs, and apostrophes then most 
of the sixth graders.  Why? I don't even want to know.  However, I do know 
that several parents when I conferenced with them about their child's lack 
of grammatical knowledge, their number one reason was that English grammar 
never made sense to them, so why should their kids be forced to learn it 
too? This goes as well for mixing up their, there, and they're. A lesson I 
taught in first grade. I'm embarrassed to say that many of my collegues were 
just as ambivalant.  Many of our new teachers hold Master degrees, which is 
really a one-year-quick-to-the-classroom approach where anyone who holds a 
four year degree in anything (like recreation, for example), can take a few 
courses and voila! Be a teacher at the end of a year.  I went through a four 
year program, plus numerous practicum experiences before I ever set foot in 
a classroom of my own.  I am embarrassed to tell this HP world that I had to 
tutor the third grade teacher next to me in the basics of phonics and 
grammar, because the second graders I sent up to her knew more than she did.

I'm not blaming these teachers, because most of them truly have children's 
best interests at heart and want to educate them to the best of their 
ability.  My beef lies with this country's attitude toward education. 
(Sorry, I'm on my soapbox) The Oregon voters have just turned down a measure 
to fund our schools (and other public services).  My school literally has to 
bring their own toliet paper now. How are you going to learn or teach, when 
all you worry about is will there be some TP left when it's time for me to 
go?

I can't go on. It upsets me too much. . .

But yes, GulPlum, American schools teach about apostrophes and other basic 
English knowledge.  This teacher, though, has called it quits.  I have my 
own child to corrupt.

My apologies for offending, rattling on, and please let the Mods save me 
from embarrassing myself,

Stacie

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