I get extremely irritated when teenagers and adults use incorrect grammar, because they REALLY should know better! This post reminds me of all the teachers I had in school who didn't use correct grammar... When I was in kindergarten, I got sent to the principal's office for correcting the teacher! (I was correct too... lol)

I know nothing about teaching and honestly it wouldn't be the profession for me because I think I would be terrible at it, but I know it must be very frustrating to have to deal with this. I'm sure that if you continue to correct them, and maybe make them write out sentences a few times (maybe 10, not 100 :)) then perhaps eventually they will come to understand what you're trying to teach them. Good luck!

What is "correct" grammar in conversation. Written is one thing. Professional interaction is another. However, interaction within a given culture.. How are you going to tell THEM what is right and wrong? A little arrogant I think.

Yeah, maybe they can speak and just chose not too. Because of my upbringing and my major, I am very proper and technical in my English -- when I want to be...

But, hanging out with my friends, I speak completely differently.

cash78mere -

As long as you don't have any of them walking around saying they can "lay the pipe" I wouldn't worry, they will hopefully grow out of it. :D Sorry but that song just cracks me up.

When I was little, my teachers used to tell me that going to school was my job, just like my parents went to work. I still tell that to my students when I teach. School is the breeding ground for future professionalism. Yes, it's also a place for children to learn social interaction within their peer groups. However, there should be a difference between the way these children speak in the hallways between classes, at lunch, and at recess, and the way they speak to each other during class and to the teachers. I don't waltz up to my boss or the president of my university and say, "Hey, babe, wazzup?" nor do I say that to my friends when we're at work, etc. This is the way I address my peers when we're by ourselves, not the way I address my superiors or my friends in a professional atmosphere. And yes, in a classroom situation, teachers are "superiors."

So Cash78mere is not trying to tell her students what is or is not appropriate in their given culture. She is trying to show them the way the world works. She's trying to teach them to conduct themselves in a way that will be conducive to their success in later life. What they do after class is their own business.

To tell them that their chosen dialect is flat our wrong is not the answer. To teach them that there is a 'correct' and respectful tone to use in certain situations would be more appropriate I think. Isn't that where the whole ebonics problem started? When a certain school district wanted to incorporate 'ebonics' into grammar lessons so they could teach 'proper' language skills?

Why don't you talk to the parents?

It's funny I found that post, because I ead an editorial on how kids type like:

I luv Him bcuz he's 2 kul.

or

Wat iz up wit dat?

It gives me a headache. On one of the Yahoo Groups that I own, I tell my members to type in proper English or be forewarned. I'm sorry to offend people who type like this at GC, but it's too damn annoying.

Her's an article:
http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/...289044,00.html

Is this really a recent development? I think back to passing notes in grade school and writing short messages in yearsbooks. All of us went through this phase and somehow managed to go on to higher education and be productive members of society.

I wouldn't necessarily blame the parents.Most kids adapt pretty easily to the standards set before them. It's a great idea to present to the kids the difference of what's acceptable on the playground vs. what's acceptable in the classroom. Maybe bring in some professionals from jobs they are interested in for a career day so they can also see and hear why it's important to improve the grammar skills from someone other than the teacher.

I can't imagine what it's like for teachers with the pressure of the No Child Left Behind policies.

Of course this is not a recent development. It's accepable to write BF/GF or BBF because it's abberviated.

cash78mere you must be consistent, persistent, and relentless.

yes. But we were not stupid enough to hand in SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS written in that manner, which I've heard many children nowadays do. It's like they have no clue that there is a difference between slang and proper speech.

Yes, the kiddies do hand in assignments with slang and improper English. I constantly get u instead of you.