Teachers need schooling on simple grammar

I have a keen interest in languages and in literacy but I am not a teacher, which may mean that my comments will immediately be dismissed by those in the teaching community. I have, however, seen the product of our education system and have spent many hours going over simple English grammar with new recruits. Many of our youngsters will be seeking work in the finance industry where, at least in most cases, attention to detail is vital.

The following points spring to mind:

first and foremost, use the literacy experts to teach the teachers. I have in the last few weeks seen items from one of the island’s senior schools. In a newsletter, the first two paragraphs by the head teacher lack any meaningful punctuation and the maths teacher obviously does not know how to use apostrophes.

I have also seen a document where a teacher has reminded pupils to use their ‘sir name’ and heard another teacher refer to ‘me and my daughter’. I even once had to explain to a child that the teacher was wrong when she changed ‘Mummy and I went shopping’ to read ‘Mummy and me went shopping’. All of these are basic, avoidable errors.

Secondly, reduce the amount of time spent in the early forms on peripheral subjects such as art and craft. Please note I am not suggesting that creative subjects be dropped, because they are certainly important, merely that the time and money spent on them be reduced. The time thus saved could then be used to reinforce literacy (and numeracy).

Thirdly, correct children’s work consistently. How confusing must it be to a child for a word to be corrected in, say, a word list but not corrected when it appears in a science or history topic? As well as this causing confusion, the child is entitled to infer that spelling and grammar really aren’t very important.

It is obviously good that the Dyslexia Day Centre will be receiving more funds, allowing children to receive specialist help from Year 4 (ages eight/nine) onwards. Whilst children who have struggled through to that point in their schooling must obviously be helped since presumably they are attaining standards below their ability, why is there little specialised support for the early years? Surely the sooner these problems are addressed, the better.

Finally, one of the greatest gifts a parent or carer can give to a child is a love of books and reading – and that is far too important to be left to teachers alone.

NAME AND ADDRESS WITHHELD.