Last night we were driving along a nearby highway. We came to a blinking, neon construction sign informing motorists to “OBAY SPEED LIMITS.” My husband and I simultaneously yelled, “OBEY!” in disbelief and then read the next construction sign: “PROCEDE WITH CAUTION.” More screaming ensued. While this might seem to be a perfectly logical spelling, no one claims that English is logical.
I can just imagine this spelling-challenged construction worker back in high school, sitting in my classroom insistently informing me that he doesn’t need to know how to spell because HE is going into the construction business. And, besides, even if he did have to write something, he would just use spell check.
Obviously, construction signs do not come with a spell check option. So, where are the spelling police when you need them? What an embarrassment! I want to require this errant speller to correct his work and perhaps even write OBEY and PROCEED ten times correctly! I certainly will be able to use this anecdote with the next student who tries to convince me that he or she doesn’t need spelling!
In the meantime, perhaps we should look into creating a spell check option for construction signs.
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Hi Debra - From a teacher who is spelling challenged, I appreciate my spell check option. The joke around our house is that the only reason that I married my husband is that he was a spelling bee champion in grammar school.:)
ReplyDeleteYour blog reminded me of a time where my husband and I spent a good part of a week pointing out misspellings that we found around town. We could not believe how many for sale signs and such were spelled incorrectly. And finally, my principal took a picture of the marquee of a neighboring school that read, "We are achieving educationel success!". I will say that he had a good laugh calling the principal of that school.
You have made a great point. Spelling will always continue to be part of your life, even outside of school.
Debra,
ReplyDeleteI can relate to your feelings about students who resist spelling words correctly. One of my past students always fought me during the editing part of the writing process. Often their final copy was done on the computer, so he would never spend any time editing, especially spelling because he knew he could just right click and get the correct spelling. Even on assignments where the final copy was handwritten, he would complain the whole time and still put forth little effort. I would love to use your little story with other students I might have who resist correct spelling.
Debra, teachers know the important of spelling. Maybe the construction workers were in a hurry or just made a stupid mistake. Many people do not get a very good background in spelling or editing. How would you get this point over to construction workers? Do you think their minds are on correct spelling? This point you made is a good. What was your mind on when you read the sign. Were you being critical or sympathetic? You write very well but can you but yourself in the construction workers shoes?
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