What do you think of homeschoolers who can't spell properly?

Question

Ok, I've been answering questions and reading answers and invariably I come upon homeschoolers messages that go something like: "I am homeschoold and I turnd out great..etc etc [insert gross grammatical and spelling errors here]. I don't have a problem with typos. English is not my first language, but I spell better than most people and it irks me to see people make other homeschooled people look like morons.
If we say we have a higher standard than the public schools, then prove it, or else you know how the saying goes: Better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

Answer 1

So many people I know, even those in high level English classes at my high school, mix up "your" and "you're". I seriously drives me crazy. Figure it out! It's not hard!
I don't think it's mostly homeschoolers who spell badly; in fact, those homeschooled students I know are quite smart. Maybe, the ones who use this site take some kind of pride in pointing out that they are indeed homeschooled, and like someone else suggested, are young (not that this excuses bad grammar). Blame public education. It's seriously crap. If you don't believe me, take this: in my city and I'm sure elsewhere too, kids at the grade school level get to CHOOSE THIER OWN SPELLING WORDS. How this helps them learn is completely beyond my comprehension.
Anyway, bottom line: I share your pain. People who can't spell need to go away.

Answer 2

It's sad. And it is probably a result of being schooled by parents who never learned how to spell correctly, either. I know, if I decide one day to homeschool my children, that there may be some topics where my own knowledge is severely lacking (such as Chemistry and Biology, etc.). I've often wondered what I'd do with my kids when it comes time to teach these subjects.

If our public schools were better equipped, perhaps some of these questions would be a good argument for NOT going the homeschool route. However, I remember many TEACHERS in my school years who couldn't spell or even speak properly. And they get PAID for it. I'm still more comfortable with homeschooling, but your question does call attention to a real issue. What do we do in those areas where the parent isn't ideally equipped to deal with a certain subject? I've always thought it might be beneficial to network with other parents nearby to coordinate topic areas. I'd be happy to teach economics for a group of kids if someone would include my kids in their lesson on Physics. Perhaps this approach would benefit spelling-challenged parents as well. I think everyone would benefit from such cooperation.

Answer 3

Hey Pablo. English was not my first language either, and frankly I am a bit shocked at how many spelling errors many native-born Americans make. The most common errors involve contractions (such as saying "their" instead of "they're", and vice versa), and words whose phoenetic vocalization implies a different spelling (for example, spelling the word definitely as definately because an "a" seems more appropriate).

I do not have much experience encountering homeschooled children, but I suspect that the underlying cause for so many not being able to spell properly and to write with proper grammar is sub-par teaching by parents who make the same common spelling and grammatical errors as other Americans. But in all fairness, I know of a number of "formal" teachers who are handsomely paid who teach their students the Ebonics version of English rather than the English mother tongue (and many don't even purport to be teaching "Ebonics", however illegitimate that venture may be.) Those teachers actually believe that Ebonics is proper English!

I mean no offense to those who speak Ebonics. Many Americans also speak "Hick" and don't even notice it. Just look at our president.

Answer 4

Well, first of all, being a homeschooler, I have to laugh at the irony of this question. I don't see any questions titled "What do you think of public-schoolers who can't spell properly?" Is this because everyone is subconsciously aware that homeschoolers live up to a higher standard, and they are suprised when they fall to the public schooling level?

Also, over three-quarters of e-mails I read from public schoolers are full of spelling errors. Is this a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black (or something like that)?

Answer 5

No matter how good your education is, how smart you are, everyone has areas that they struggle in. For some it's spelling, some it's math, some it's common sense and I'm serious when I say that. We should not judge anyone by their weak points, especially when we don't know them personally, even if it puts us out to deal with it. That's life, that's what getting along means. Nobody is better than anyone else. A lot of times we are in a hurry, trying to get out what we want to say so we don't forget, and some times it's simply a typo. You don't know the individual, so you don't know their circumstances. There are a lot of people with special needs that are homeschooled, you could be reading posts from them. There are a lot of learning disabilities out there that aren't going to be cured by homeschooling, but that aren't severe enough as to keep them from getting online and communicating, things like dyslexia(forgive me if I spelled that wrong).

Answer 6

You don't have to be home schooled to be a bad speller. I've noticed that most of my friends (and I'm talking about people schooled in private as well as the public school system) don't have a firm grasp of the English language, let alone spelling. I'm often shocked that my college grad friends have no clue regarding the difference between "your" and "you're", or "there", "their" or "they're". So to label this a homeschooling issue isn't fair as far as I'm concerned.
I have a question for you.....Is "homeschoolers" even a word?

Answer 7

Well, you do have a point. When I read a post from someone who is homeschooled or a parent who is homeschooling his/her child(ren) and they have misspelled words or improper grammar, I have to grimace, because I know that we homeschoolers are held to a higher standard. We have something to prove, because everyone is looking to disprove what we do....which is entirely unfair...but such is life. There are PLENTY of students from Public and Private schools as well as homeschooled students who either can't spell well or didn't bother to try because they use different standards on-line.

Answer 8

See Pablo, the problem is that the daft do not know they are daft. Even if you told them they are daft, they would not believe you.

One or two folks with errors in spelling do not make all home schooled people look bad. It's frightening to think of what else they cannot do. Maybe that one you mentioned is a drop out and got only to grade 9 at home.

Answer 9

My husband was the product of 8 years of private school and 4 years of public education as well as his associates degree and his spelling is by far extraordinarily horrible! LOL! Have you read posts here in yahoo answers? Look at the spelling of the public school kids that are posting!!! Beyond frightening!

Answer 10

I am so annoyed by incorrect grammar and gross spelling.I mean, if you can't spell than try not to type.It's obnoxious.I don't think it has anything to do with homeschooling, because a lot of public school people have issues with spelling.So I mean, don't judge the homeschooled people.