Does anyone agree with me that spelling should be required thru 12th grade?

1. 51

   skeptics r usposted 15 years ago

   Does anyone agree with me that spelling should be required thru 12th grade?
   
   I've seen so many spelling errors on web pages lately. That includes 'help wanted' pages!!!!!! It's a scary thought that our future is in the hands of people that are not even aware that there's a problem.

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2. 61

   crowscallposted 15 years ago

   Absolutely! As an English teacher, I am horrified at the number of spelling mistakes I have seen even in 12th grade writing. The problem is that the kids have gotten so addicted to spellcheck, they have decided that there is no need to do anything even vaguely resembling spelling. And then when you give them vocabulary...you would think that you have asked then to think! How awful. Thinking and spelling rolled into one.
        The bottom line is that the future of spelling is in the hands of people who don't care. Take away spell check, and see what kinds of essays they would write then. The only thing to do is to try to make them get the ideas of spelling without word banks and without the kinds of problems inherent in most school systems. When I was in school, I didn't get word banks and I still spelled alright. Most of the kids have stopped trying.

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3. 60

   MedlenINKposted 15 years ago

   I agree to some extent.The problem is that after the 8th grade, most teachers do not teach spelling, or any other facet of grammar and rules of the English language.
   
   However, if by teaching spelling you mean giving a student a list of words to memorize, then no, I don't agree. Most educational experts will agree that rote memorization is not effective with students.
   
   The best solution would be teaching spelling, grammar, etc. through actual experience. For a student, this would mean actually writing. By having to write, they are forced to spell correctly. Additionally, students can be taught spelling through their literature they read in the classroom.
   
   As for spelling problems on the web, that's a whole other ballgame. Hopefully this answers your question.

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4. 76

   Katharellaposted 15 years ago

   I graduated in 1977 and I still need spelling lessons.
   The best punishment I ever got was writing dictionary pages when I was in a private school. I learned more there than anywhere.
   Yes I agree!

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5. 62

   Kebennett1posted 15 years ago

   My son graduated a year early and with honors. He can not spell worth a darn. It amazes me how any school can pass a child from one grade to the next and then graduate them without them knowing how to spell. I see this all the time.

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6. 74

   Moonchild60posted 15 years ago

   Katharella says
   I graduated in 1977 and I still need spelling lessons.
   The best punishment I ever got was writing dictionary pages when I was in a private school. I learned more there than anywhere
   
   It's so funny you say that, when I was 12 I started writing words out of the dictionary and trying to use them.  Only difference is, I did it for fun!  Perhaps that is why I always received a 100 or 105 if I got the bonus word, on all my spelling tests.  I love words though, so this helped alot.  I think reading the dictionary and copying words from it is an excellent assignment for all kids between 10 and 18.  Then they not only know how to spell words, they know what they mean and how to use them.

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7. 67

   puppascottposted 15 years ago

   There is no excuse for a high school graduate to mispell commonly used words, and there is no excuse for an educational system that allows it. Spelling is just one more victim of political correctness. After all we can't expect kids who aren't from this country to conform to the rules of our national language. We might hurt someone's feelings, or damage the little one's self esteem. And heaven forbid we be proud enough to learn our own language to the point of proficiency. That may cause junior a little stress when he has to stand and spell a word; oh, the horror. I can only imagine the frustration of English teachers that fully know and appreciate the beauty and complexities of our language, only to hear and see students murder the language with such complacent disregard.

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8. 60

   SheWrites808posted 15 years ago

   Absolutely!!  As someone who interviews job candidates, I can tell you that it's appalling to me how many people misspell words on their resumes!  If there is ever a crucial time to have every word in a document spelled correctly, one would think that a resume would be it!  After all, one has every opportunity to get their spelling correct prior to handing off their resume to a prospective employer; yet so many I've seen still contain simple spelling errors.  I won't even call a candidate in if their spelling isn't correct.  After all, if they have that low of a level of attention to detail in something pertaining to their own interest and benefit, how can I trust that they would do the work I assign them with any kind of integrity?
   
   Perhaps if spelling and grammar were taught through 12th grade, we might have fewer dud resumes to cull through, and more intelligent people in the world!
   
   Thanks for the provocative question, I hope I didn't misspell anything!

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9. 60

   Kyaposted 15 years ago

   Absolutely. Although I would expect 12th graders to know their spelling and to have learned this in earlier years. If this is not the case, then maybe spelling was not big enough on the agenda of the younger students?

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10. 51

    impunity75posted 15 years ago

    In South Carolina, spelling is no longer taught after 5th grade in public schools. I went to private school. We had spelling to 12th grade!

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11. 61

    GNelsonposted 15 years ago

    I agree!  I love spell check but it is only a substitute.  My sister teaches high school English and has horror stories to tell.  In Florida they are teaching kids how to pass a test, the FCAT.  Spelling is not all that is missing.

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12. 65

    generalbratposted 14 years ago

    I totally agree because the more you learn the smarter you'll be!

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