Response to forum comment 22 March 2011

Noted a post on forums which I found deserved a response but have chosen to add to blog. The writer questioned the necessity to spell words including pharaoh and hieroglyphic (both of which were spelled incorrectly) asking if it mattered if her daughter could spell those words. She queried whether students should know Pythagoras' theorem and how to multiply fractions without a calculator. She thinks these things are becoming obsolete as everyone can 'google it'. Further the writer thinks that one can change jobs every year not just stay in the same job for years and that students should not be forced to stay at school so that the 'government can claim low unemployment rates'. Spelling - language is living - it changes according to many things but most of all usage. Spelling and grammar will change over time, words come and go, but if youth does not have the basis of the structure including spelling, they may find it very hard to understand requirements in the workforce, written instructions in areas of safety, laws, tax etc. Pharaoh and hieroglyphic - it may not matter to some, but the Egypitan culture from whence these words originate, gave much to our society and it is worth respecting the knowledge we have now that came from them. To spell or not to spell correctly - it does help to understand much that came before. much that we need to know and much that will come after (even in a changed form). Pythagoras - well I was never much good at maths but I appreciate how much of our world revolves around mathematics (the writer didn't mention science which surprises me as so much of my world is made up of scientific matter!) It may not appear to matter now but many trades require mathematics as a basis for the skills therein and Pythagoras may matter. How do we know at a Year 9 level of school. If the student does not have that information they may not gain the qualification and therefore the skill, later. Fractions in your head - sharpens the mind - the brain is probably the most underutilised organ in our body - use it. If a person wants to change jobs every year - boy would they have to be well equipped with knowledge and skills. Schools are there to provide students with that knowledge - we are there to provide and guide. There are many faults with our schooling system but that is the intention. To 'google it' - well whatever you want may appear to be there but isn't this what TLs are supposed to be doing - teaching students not only how to find the information but to determine its authenticity, veracity, accuracy - does this really answer my question and if not what else do I need and how can I decide if it is appropriate? Spelling is my bug bear - I am tired of having to ask students in grade 5 what they mean - it is a critical part of communication in language - whether Pharaoh is important or not isn't the issue