this does push one of my buttons...*grin*

I agree with Alice--- there is a place for dialect and the use of regional variants.

What bothers me is people who seemingly never look at or listen to themselves and 'think' about their use of language. As to the question of whether there IS a 'standard'....sure there is! Just tune in to one of the major nightly news broadcasts. It is not a 100% infallible guide, but I will assure you Tom Brokaw does not say "youse" or "y'all". It is perfectly fine to switch to your preferred local variant at times, but everyone should know what my German teacher in college called "Die Umgangsprache"...that is, the accepted 'default' form of the language (yes, even this changes gradually with time.)

School teachers who CANNOT switch or do not know that they are using a word generally considered sub-standard should be informed and encouraged to improve their image. It can happen that an otherwise decent teacher can lose respect because of careless language.

(I once listened to a radio talk show where an African-American woman was defending the use of "Ebonics" and the Black 'language' variants by kids. She was pefectly capable of switching--appearing on a radio show and speaking 'standard' English, but suggesting at the same time that young black kids be allowed to grow up unable to adapt and thus limiting their job markets and social acceptance...all because it was their 'right' to speak as they pleased!)