A Very Important Announcement by the NSW Minister for Education, towards the end of 2008. Spelling and grammar are going to be re-introduced to the curriculum in all schools in NSW.
HALLELUJAH!!!! When I was at school, correct spelling and grammar were strictly enforced, not only in English classes, but also in all other subjects. Any written essay, in any subject, was marked on correct spelling etc., as well as its subject matter. Not so these days, as the current thinking is that it's more important to have a good knowledge of the relevant subject, than it is to spell correctly. I can agree with that premise to a certain extent, but I maintain that spelling and grammar are also very important.
One has only to read through some newspapers to see the results of the attitude mentioned above. The younger batch of journalists are absolutely woeful when it comes to spelling, or correct usage of like sounding words.
For example, in the last few days, our local paper has printed some gems - he has "taken the reigns", instead of "reins"; he "changed tact", instead of "tack"; they had to "baton down the hatches", instead of "batten", and the list goes on.
Another common fault is the misuse of the apostrophe, particularly as regards plurals, e.g. banana's, instead of bananas, picture's, instead of pictures. Also, the confusion between "its", and "it's". "Its" is the possessive, that is, "the car had a worn tyre on its rear wheel", whereas "it's" is a contraction of "it is".
I'd better stop now, I feel a headache coming on, I've been thinking too much again
Peter.