My daughter and I were walking down the halls of our local public high school when the above window painting jumped out at me. While I agree with the sentiments expressed above, I wish it weren't a reflection of what I feel may be the caliber of our public school education. I mean, if I were the English teacher in this school, I think it would take all I had to not edit the above written work. While this is, unfortunately, a common grammatical mistake, if I were responsible for the education of the students at this public school, I think a grammar lesson on proper verb usage, with an explanation similar to the one here, would have taken place immediately upon seeing the mistake. It makes me wonder if the mistake wasn't noticed.
I wish it were true that I graduated from my public high school with a solid foundation for college and beyond. However, that wasn't the case. I'm a little bitter that my public school education wasn't sufficient. I wish it were true that I could say that I never make grammatical mistakes. Admittedly, I'm still learning what I should have learned many years ago, and I do make grammatical mistakes on occasion. If I were the one who had written on this window, I'd want it corrected so I could learn the proper usage. I'd expect that in a learning environment.
When I pointed out the window to my daughter as we walked by, she indicated that I was being entirely too critical, as expressed by her eye roll and, "Oh, Mom!" However, she was educated on proper verb usage and immediately knew the reason for my complaint. If that weren't the case, she wouldn't have understood my distress without further explanation. Perhaps it was true that I was being too quick to look for fault in public education. It is entirely possible. However, if I were one to not be concerned, my kids would be walking those very halls with the students who wished it "was" summer.
I do agree, though, on this cold February day, that I wish it were summer.
5 comments:
You make a good point. As a ps graduate myself, I find that most of the grammar I know I know intuitively, and I suspect that I learned it by reading lots and lots of books rather than actually being taught the rules by my teachers. Students who don't read lots and lots of books probably don't learn grammar in ps.
BTW: I didn't even catch the gaffe at first, as my mind automatically "edited" it to read were, lol. I had to go back and reread it when I got to your conclusion. I thought at first you were objecting to the "wishin'!" Sorry;0)
heehee... I must admit, at first glance I did not know what was wrong with the writing on the window. I can't say that I remember learning grammar at all in public school. But after reading your post and looking again at the writing, I did finally understand!
I have to say that I agree with you! I went to a public school also and I am positive there are things that I don't know yet, that I will learn while teaching my children in high school one day! Its sad that children dislike going to school, I think its a great experience to children of all ages, but the pubic school system falls short on so many levels! I do have to admit I do wish it were summer too, ready for birds and bugs and warm weather!
I wish it WERE summer too, Heidi. LOL Ashley and I are always walking around editing things. It's a disease. :)
I would have said, "I wish it WAS summer!" I guess I never learnt proper English either. Sad when you don't even realise it...
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