Spelling???

[Enigma]

So ... Presentation, one; Content, nil?

Now THAT I don't understand. :confused:

[Mark]

Im sorry but someone which has problem spelling, yet still chooses to go to university is amazing in my books. One downfall yet goes to university to get a degree? Not sit at home all day and sponge off the council, like the how it was increasing not long ago.

It hacks me off the youth of today get slated for spelling and all the exams are easier rubbish. Do people not realise the amount of work going into it? How the level of pass rates is increasing?

University isnt just for the upper class these days, some students come from really horrible areas/backgrounds but are willing to take a chance for self improvement regardless of spelling. You CANNOT point out simple spelling mistakes.

Its like now, the older generation because of waste habits in effect has mucked up the enviroment, yet we dont rant saying how sick of it we are. Every action I have to take is recycling and not simple recycling, one for food, one for waste, cans, bottles, paper, garden waste, plastic, solid plastic, cardboard.

Anyway thats just another problem. But seriously, dont slate the spelling based on the example you gave, universities are hard enough to get into as it is, let alone people being singled out for spelling.

Only reason I may be offended by the way, is that you pointed out education. Do you not know how offencive and in a way upsetting it is to have everyone make comments like that? Making out students dont do any work, they cant do basic skills such as spelling, and basically what we work for is useless? No wonder people choose to sponge off the council, if this is the reaction they get for spelling a few words wrong, or using slang.

Internet sites are to relax. Not be formal 24/7.

[Mark]

Japanese
French
Welsh
English
Spanish
Maths
Statistics
English Lit
English Lan
Geography
PSE
R.E
History
Information Systems
Business studies
Media studies
P.E
Cookery
DOE
General Studies
Accountancy
Biology
Drama
Music
Wood Tech
Textiles.

Basically those are of use, language helps me to understand other people. English is what I use to speak. Geography allows me to know where people are situated. PSE taught us about pubity etc so was use. Religion everyone needs knowledge. History is what our present lives are based on. Info systems, almost everything is technology. Business studies im doing now, media studies is always useful to understand why films do certain things, PE is good as it allows me to know how to keep healthy. Cookery I can now make meals. DOE is alot about personal discipline. General studies covers important subjects such as problems at the moment peadophiles and that. Accountancy allows me to work out what to spend. Same with maths. Biology taught me about the human body, preparing me for the changes I had to face, allowing me not to be like what is happening?! Drama allows you to express yourself, which is important. Music is also the same principle, self expression. Wood tech, I can do general DIY not needing to cry when something goes wrong, wasting money to fix it. Textiles I can sew things up when a hole pops up not rushing to buy more.

So overall most of the things I learnt is used in my life now. So very useful.

[wouldlikemuscle]

Oh Hai Guise!

Mark.. wut iz DOE??? - edit: nvm... found it out (thx mark)

[Enigma]

Im sorry but someone which has problem spelling, yet still chooses to go to university is amazing in my books. One downfall yet goes to university to get a degree? Not sit at home all day and sponge off the council, like the how it was increasing not long ago.

It hacks me off the youth of today get slated for spelling and all the exams are easier rubbish. Do people not realise the amount of work going into it? How the level of pass rates is increasing?

University isnt just for the upper class these days, some students come from really horrible areas/backgrounds but are willing to take a chance for self improvement regardless of spelling. You CANNOT point out simple spelling mistakes.

Its like now, the older generation because of waste habits in effect has mucked up the enviroment, yet we dont rant saying how sick of it we are. Every action I have to take is recycling and not simple recycling, one for food, one for waste, cans, bottles, paper, garden waste, plastic, solid plastic, cardboard.

Anyway thats just another problem. But seriously, dont slate the spelling based on the example you gave, universities are hard enough to get into as it is, let alone people being singled out for spelling.

Only reason I may be offended by the way, is that you pointed out education. Do you not know how offencive and in a way upsetting it is to have everyone make comments like that? Making out students dont do any work, they cant do basic skills such as spelling, and basically what we work for is useless? No wonder people choose to sponge off the council, if this is the reaction they get for spelling a few words wrong, or using slang.

Internet sites are to relax. Not be formal 24/7.

Oh SB you are getting way way too hot over this. No-one, least of all me has accused you of anything. I know and accept that my generation left a lot of problems for you younger folk to solve but all I am trying to point out is that, if you are going to be really succesfull, spelling and literacy is a major boost to employment prospects. An employer receives CV with spellling or other mistakes and it goes in the bin along with the applicants hopes. Why CANNOT I point out simple spelling errors? If pointed out then folk then take them on board and avoid in futue.

[Mark]

People type CV's up. Done on word. Word auto corrects. With dictionary. Therefore dont worry about spelling. And getting way hot because your points are invalid. Also annoyed me alot. But hey ho.

[Enigma]

Right my last try. I have friends and relatives in management of IT, railway and communications industries all of whom have conducted interviews with prospective employees. The growing trend now is to take no notice of CV's. They are not worth the paper they are written on. The procedure now is to do an entirely verbal test for literacy, spelling and math face to face with the applicant.. The vital thing is to have the person in front of you in the flesh and no matter what their uni qualifications, if they fail it = no job. They have had applicants in tears BEGGING for the job but they get told to go back and learn to spell or whatever and re-apply. Especially if the position required is in the city.

The trouble is that uni tests and stuff ARE far too easy nowadays compared to what the were years ago. The STUDENT might think they are hard but if fact they are mickey mouse things generally. The message from industry now is that unless you can spell, do math, and have a good standard of literacy then forget it and get a job bus driving. A good standard in all three is ESSENTIAL. No matter wether you are a student, graduate or post-graduate if you can't do any of these to a high standard then you are a liabilty to any company or organisation.

It is your FUTURE you are deciding so don't go boshing it up over your inability to so something. This is not a personal critique of ANYBODY just a plea that you maximise your chances to get where you want to be.

[Mark]

You just said the most twatish thing you could.

"Exams are easier" Like to see you fking try them. Ffs. :l What a joke. How can you even say that? Do you sit them? No. Just because more pass doesnt mean they get easier. Id like to see you sit all these exams, see what you get.

Its funny when most teachers and older generation take part in experiments to see if they pass exams they actually fail them?

What a jerkish comment to say. Wow Enigma. I never thought YOU'D come out with something like that. You have completely annoyed me.

Do you know personally how heart wrenching it is to sit an exam and do good and be told "OH ITS EASIER THESE DAYS", Or on the other hand do bad and be told the same?!

I remember my GCSE's. I had one D. Though ah well its fine, got home had all these people saying the exact same thing, (emotional but), was in tears because of it, why did I fail a simple test? which was easier than ever and everyone can pass. It almost made me not attend sixth form, as I thought well I cant even pass basic tests.

Kids dont try these days exactly for that reason, why do good if we get told, "Exams are easier these days anyway". Enigma, re-evaluate what you say in future. This shows me theres no wonder the younger generation dont take well to you when you make comments like that.

And not im not being hot headed or whatever you want to say, say that to anyone studying at the moment, over 6 grand in debt just for year one, has no social life because they are doing essays all the time, keeping up with module work, just to get a decent grade. Thats actually made me feel bad now you saying that, im not perfect in every exam but you saying they are easier, and me not doing to high in exams woah.

If you gave some respect mate, then you'd get some back, people wouldnt think your wierd talking to younger generations.

ARGH YOUVE ANNOYED ME SO MUCH. Im ending this here, I dont think I can speak to someone like you which contains such low views, and is willing to put down achievments.

Gayspeak brings different generations together right? Well Enigma for me you've widened the gap.

[marshlander]

Now THAT I don't understand. :confused:

That which is written is usually more important than how it is written (ie content is more important than the presentation thereof). What has made more difference to the world, ideas or correct spelling?

I take your later point that an employer looking to employ one of two job candidates of otherwise equal potential would probably choose one who could spell over one who couldn't, but ... if spelling were not essential to the job a wise employer might do well to look at each candidate's other qualities.

There is a long list of people who have managed very successful careers despite living with dyslexia (Albert Einstein, Richard Branson, Benjamin Zephaniah, Whoopi Goldberg, Anthony Hopkins and Marcus Brigstocke all come to mind). Spelling may have been a significant issue in their lives, but it doesn't seem to have held them back. They've all achieved more than I have. I'm old fashioned enough to believe that the acquisition of spelling skills is but one of those disciplines that helps us construct a coherent argument. Language is only useful in the degree to which it helps us communicate.

I believe there is some evidence to indicate that there are presently higher numbers of children entering the school system who are very poorly equipped with verbal communication skills. When I work in schools I meet some of them. It is not really the job of the school to teach a child to talk! If a child has not learned the basics of speaking and listening at an age when the brain is designed to absorb and develop language, catching up becomes very difficult. If a child is forever catching up on the most basic communication and social skills could there be a knock-on effect into later learning? As a child I was always either playing in the local woods or curled up with a book. I derived a lot of pleasure from reading and I never needed to be made to do it. Also, I remember a narrower range of subjects than is currently the case in schools. However, I believe the range of disciplines covered may have been greater, because our teachers were allowed to teach through imagination rather than the statute of a compulsory curriculum. Somehow it seemed to work out for those of us with the ability to work out our own academic survival techniques.

The response of successive governments has been to provide nursery places for four, then three, year olds while encouraging parents to get back to work. They have also instituted mind-numbing "literacy" strategies. I'm curious as to why countries like Holland have allowed their children to start school at the age of six and not had the same panic over reported levels of functional illiteracy. It couldn't possibly have something to do with the bonding and nurturing that can take place when parents can be parents and not forced to be breadwinners, while their children are left daily in the care of strangers, could it? That's probably a grotesque simplification.

There must be something in the air because I've just had almost the same discussion with a visitor this evening. The world is a different place from the world we knew at school. For a start, the weeding-out process was begun at the age of eleven (or even earlier if one's primary school classes were streamed). Those who failed the eleven-plus exam rarely had a second chance and hardly ever ended up in university. That was a privilege afforded to only a tiny minority. These days it can be an aspiration for pretty much anyone who is sufficiently motivated. It's not too late for you either, Enigma. There are people much older than you graduating through the Open University and other distance learning courses every year.

Apologies if some of these points come out half-baked. You've given me plenty to think about. Interesting discussion though.

[marshlander]

... The STUDENT might think they are hard but if fact they are mickey mouse things generally. The message from industry now is that unless you can spell, do math, and have a good standard of literacy then forget it and get a job bus driving ...

This discussion is going into some deep places!

Aside from editorials in the Daily Mail I'm not convinced that there is a great deal of evidence of the Disneyfication of university courses (although this week's news concerning Macdonaldification is a different issue ). The range of courses is greater, the range of students is greater, the range of universities is greater. We are in a changed world. I suspect there may be a mismatch between the expectations of some employers and the aspirations of some university graduates, but the students I see do tend to apply themselves more than I remember doing. I know one young man who is so determined to pass his science degree course that he has repeated every year so far in an attempt to better his grades. The debts he is building up are truly unthinkable. Just getting through the day is a very different kind of challenge and I fear the costs may eventually prove to go well beyond the financial

While there may be some truth in your assertions, Enigma, I recognise completely the world Saltybeanz describes.