What the heck is

[Growler]

One of the coolest people I ran across in radio was a fellow who did Armed Forces radio during WWII. He did the Sunday morning show on one of the stations I worked at. Had a huge collection of Armed Forces jazz records. Remember how the programs used to come on LP's?

Dano, the problem is you were "Broiling" them (records). I found all day in the Crock Pot tenderized them enough to eat. I guess CD's would be Neuvo Cuisine.

[Danoinark]

When I worked in Memphis a couple of the guys had gotten their start in Armed Forces Radio. It was a good place to get your feet wet I am sure.

The first job I had was tracking Armed Forces Radio programs on giant platters. While the program was running I would go out and mow the stations lawn... I would have to watch the time, go in flip it over, then mow somemore.

Dano

[Rusty]

Ok guys, I am hijacking my thread back. With that being said...I just heard on the news, grade school teachers are "putting away red markers" and are NOT going to correct spelling errors. I knew it was only a matter of time. Bye bye English. Welcome any and all bonics.

[Terry Beeson]

In a specific school or all over the country?

[Rusty]

Kentucky. I can not remember the district. They had the superintendent of the school on, approving this.

[WebFreeman]

I saw this on CNN the other day and thought of this thread. As an freshman comp. instructor, I find it interesting. Please note the last paragraph.

Students use IM-lingo in essays

ORLANDO, Florida (AP) -- Middle school teacher Julia Austin is noticing a new generation of errors creeping into her pupils' essays.

Sure, they still commit the classic blunders -- like the commonly used "ain't." But an increasing number of Austin's eighth-graders also submit classwork containing "b4," "ur," "2" and "wata" -- words that may confuse adults but are part of the teens' everyday lives.

This "instant messaging-speak" or "IM-speak" emerged more than a decade ago. Used in e-mail and cell phone text messages, most teens are familiar with this tech talk and use it to flirt, plan dates and gossip.

But junior high and high school teachers nationwide say they see a troubling trend: The words have become so commonplace in children's social lives that the techno spellings are finding their way into essays and other writing assignments.

"The IM-speak is so prevalent now," said Austin, a language arts teacher at Stonewall Jackson Middle School in Orlando. "I'm always having to instruct my students against using it."

Vicki A. Davis, a high school teacher at Westwood Schools in Camilla, Georgia, said she even finds the abbreviated words in term papers.

"I'm Southern, but I wouldn't use the sayings, "squeal like a pig" or "kick the bucket," in formal writing (because) some people may not understand," Davis said. "IM-speak should be treated the same way."

Fourteen-year-old Brandi Concepcion, a pupil of Austin's, said wit, da and dat -- used in place of with, the and that -- sometimes creep into her homework.

"I write like that in the rough draft, but I try to catch the mistakes before I turn in the final draft," she said.

Some educators, like David Warlick, 54, of Raleigh, North Carolina, see the young burgeoning band of instant messengers as a phenomenon that should be celebrated. Teachers should credit their students with inventing a new language ideal for communicating in a high-tech world, said Warlick, who has authored three books on technology in the classroom.

And most avoid those pitfalls once they enter college, said Larry Beason, director of freshman composition at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama.

"Some of the same kids that I teach now were probably guilty of techno spellings in high school," Beason said. "But most students realize that they need to put their adolescent spellings behind them by the time they get to college."

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Here is the link. http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/02/09/chat.lingo.ap/index.html

About the worst I see it "thru" and things like that. I did bring up "prolly" in class a few weeks ago. About half new what it was. Most will grow up eventually and know what's appropriate and what isn't. There will always be students who don't think writing is important, even those who graduate from college. I've had people tell me in papers and final exams how much writing sucks or how they don't need it. Even bad writers can make a C if they want to. As an educator and parent, I know I won't count on my daughters' teachers to be their only source on learning.

[WebFreeman]

More thoughts....

TV, and even print media, tend to oversimplify everything, from the war in Iraq to trout growth rates to education. I tried to find info about the particular district in Kentucky, but there is likely a lot more to the story. First of all, there is a bid difference between teaching writing and teaching spelling. There is also a difference between teaching writing and teaching grammar. Just look at how our kids learn to talk. My 5-year-old speaks in grammatically correct ways even though they haven’t taught her any “grammar” lessons in Kindergarten. Part of it is the natural absorption of language, part of it us correcting her mistakes (i.e. “she” went to the store not “her” went to the store.).

I have always intentionally not used a red pen when I grade and not because I’m some hippie English teacher. I hated the red pen when I was a kid. I hate it now when I get things from supervisors marked in red. I make the same comments, mark the same mistakes and give the same grades whether I do it in blue, black or red.

I know watching my daughter in kindergarten, I’m proud of the state of our schools. My daughter’s class is writing complete sentences and doing things I know I didn’t do until first grade. She read her first book at school the other day. And it’s not because she’s brilliant (though she is ☺), all the kids in the class are doing the same thing. Some are farther along that others, but the expectations are much higher than when I was a kid, and I’m only 32. High school kids are doing things as freshman I did as a sophomore or junior.

Things are different for sure, but there is always more to the story. There are also always good teachers and bad teachers at every level and every college and university, not matter if it’s community college in Springfield or Harvard.

[Don]

I am a firm believer of school vouchers. Our American students do not stack up globally. The most successful countries let the money follow the child. Voucher programs in some aspects have worked well instead of government schools. Feedback?

[Thom]

Quote: "We use a lot of slang and "short fors", which some people are not as familiar with."

Just curious. Have they changed the writing rules so that now it is correct in using a preposition to end a sentence with?

See I proved it can be done. No writing police are rushing in to slap the cuffs on me.

Not picking on you Mrs Ducky. You are one of my favorite posters here and I always read the inciteful posts that you contribute. You usually bring class to the forum with your great style.

Just making a point. Even though I graduated cumma sum laude from two of my degrees, when I am on a fishing fourum or the web I couldn't care less. At 68 my eyesight and typing skills are not the same as they were and this forum page doesn't have a spell check so I just leave most go.

If I am writing a paper for grades or a dissertation to comlete a term of study, I do it all according to the rules. Other than that "who cares" Not the folks that I hang with. If someone does ... fine ... I just don't.

One of my sons counseller's in high school advised him to go to trade school based on his writing skills and english grades. He worked hard in college and ended up graduating with honors. He was also on the faculitiy of the University of Indiana before being recruited to head the department in his present job based on what he could do not on how he wrote.

I have an friend from England and he always remarks how even educated folks in America murder the English language.

The standards there are much higher. I usually can't understand a word thay are saying. I am nearly deaf and the last time I was in London I thought I would need an interpreter.

I am sure that someone will grade my post and let me know my mistakes. It's a fishing forum!

Tell me what to tie on to catch a fish with. I know I did it twice. prep ending sentence. So shoot me.

Rusty encourage you children to learn the correct and acceptable way to write and pat them on the back when they do, but also encourage them not to be snobs about it to others who don't. The other children may not have a great dad like they have.

Merry Christma all

Thom