BS: CN U PSS THS TST?

Subject: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: Peace
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:17 AM

"New Zealand has just decreed that high school students can use "text-speak," the language of cellphone text messaging, on tests.
   Text-spaek uses abbreviations like txt for text, lol for laughing out loud or lots of love, and CU for see you.
   Kiwi Country's Qualifications Authority says while it strongly discourages students from using anything other than full English, it will give credit if an answer "clearly shows the required understanding," even in text-speak.
   Folks Down Under are divided on the idea.
   Internet blogger Phil Stevens wasn't amused by the announcement. "nzqa (New Zealand Qualifications Authority): u mst b joking," he wrote. "or r u smoking sumthg?"

Compiled by Kathy Murrie"



Posted without comment.

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:21 AM

One of the English examining boards proposed to do the same recently. I wonder what will happen if the marker simply doesn't understand yoofspeak, and marks it down as incomprehensible?

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: Peace
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:23 AM

I posted this because the 'business model' of education began in New Zealand and England years ago--and didn't work. North America immediately began to use the business model, no doubt to prove that we could MAKE it work, and it isn't. I would hazard that the above little innovation will be here within three to four years.

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:34 AM

In a few more years, none of these kids will be able to communicate effectively in English. Which probably won't matter much because even the teachers will not be able too either!

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: Amos
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 12:21 PM

I suspect this will reduce the leadership pool of the country to a smaller number than ever before, pushing us toward an elitism or oligarchy as the only way to make society run. People who can't run two thoughts together tend to make ill-informed decisions and re-dramatize the major errors of history, I have noticed recently.

Interesting times ahead for a democracy that depends on an educated populace for its success.

A

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: Grab
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 12:22 PM

Depends on the exam.

If it's English, then clearly using abbreviations like that ain't going to fly. But if it's maths, say, where you'll find a whole bunch of abbreviations anyway ("3d pl", "LCD", etc) then it's hardly going to make a difference.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: MMario
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 12:24 PM

I'd give them credit for the answer but *ONLY* on the condition they take a remedial course in English.

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: Greg F.
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 12:45 PM

Absolutely Great! Lets dumb 'em ALL down even more & throw all standards of any sort in the toilet.

Hell, why send 'em to school at all? Think of the money that could be saved!

Expect the BuShites will pick this assinine idea up as a Republican platform plank for '08- the new No Child's Left Buttock Act.

Then instead of most U.S. citizens being being merely mono-lingual(of which the U.S. education system should be duly ashamed in the first place), they can be non-lingual. Then they can work towards completely non-verbal.

Oh, ye generation of eggplants.

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: GUEST,Bagpuss
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 01:07 PM

guardian article about same issue in scotland.

"The SQA said today that although text answers were considered "inappropriate" and would not be eligible for top marks, pupils would still be given credit if expressing a valid idea.

A spokesman for the board said: "We give credit for the idea a candidate is expressing. But you would get more marks for that idea in perfect English than you would if you used text language.

"It would be much too harsh not to give credit for knowledge and attainment that is expressed in bad language."


Sounds sensible to me. Should a person who knows something about a subject but expresses it poorly really be marked the same as someone who knows nothing about the subject?

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 01:13 PM

Anybody using text language should get a special grade. They get marked on what they have written as normal, with any marks for spelling or grammar being with-held, and they are awarded the Grade, with the added Tag 'Illiterate'

You then have to apply to an employer or university with, for example:

A-Levels, Example School, 2007: A,B,B,B,C Illiterate.

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: gnu
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 01:56 PM

I recall the comedian John Wing saying that his daughter's teacher stated that teachers no longer marked or corrected spelling errors. John asked the teacher, "What's going to happen when she gets out of school and applies for a jib?"

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 04:28 PM

Reminds me of the teacher, several years ago, who didn't like the way I graded her first year English classes' papers. Too many red marks, the little dears would be devastated if she handed them back, no matter I included positive suggestions and noted that she had some damn fine talent in her classes, they just needed a little direction. We're talking about their first essays of the year...how were they going to improve without being told what needed correcting or polishing?

I despise text messaging. If they understand the concept they can write it out in plain English or whatever their language is. There is enough deterioration of the language without this kind of encouragement.

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 05:13 PM

"But you would get more marks for that idea in perfect English than you would if you used text language."


In the world of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

Those students who make no effort to learn the language WILL learn one day why they should have.

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: GUEST,BOAB
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:34 PM

CA VV?
AA N02 VV!
I.A.R.
O.I.--SO A R.

Nothing new about text abbreviaion! Above is a well-worn example from scores of years BEFORE either computers of cell phones.A conversation btween twa Glasgow kids--
"See ae twa burds"?
"Aes no twa burds!"!
"Aye ae are!"
"Oh aye--so ae are!"

Ouch!!

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 03:05 AM

I cn pss th tst bt it rly mks my brn hrt.

Nvr use abvs wn txtng, nvr wl.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: GUEST,Pelrad
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 04:23 PM

Let's hope this trend doesn't get a toehold like "kid writing" has here in the US. Young students today are already at a disadvantage because they're not marked wrong for spelling words phonetically rather than correctly. In the younger grades children actually WANT to know the rules for spelling, grammar and pronunciation. By late elementary school, which is when curriculae now stress correct spelling, they're not interested. Adding abbreviations into the mix would make it totally intelligible!

Kim

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: Rapparee
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 04:29 PM

h3y d00dz wh47 m4k3z u 7h1nk 7h3r3s c0mmun1c4shun n0w?

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: GUEST,Geoff the Duck
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 06:03 AM

Can You Piss This Toast?
How did I do?
Quack!!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 06:19 AM

"late elementary school, which is when curriculae now stress correct spelling"

Curricula?

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 07:15 AM

I dnt gv a fk

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 07:36 AM

All they are saying is that if they can understand what was meant then they will give marks accordingly. However - the student is taking a big risk that the marker will understand...

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 07:36 AM

oops - I meant gamble not risk. blimey & its not even txt!

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: Bizibod
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 08:20 AM

Saw a statement on the back of a bus which read:-

DNT B WSTFUL

Oh, I thought , OK ,thanks for that, I'll see if I can't muster a smile even though I really don't feel much like it at the moment.

It wasn't until I saw it again the following day that I realised it was an instruction from the environmental department ....

Had to laugh - it worked for me !

Subject: RE: BS: CN U PSS THS TST?
From: Schantieman
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 10:59 AM

I (being a fully paid-up Grumpy Old Man) make a point always to use correct spelling and grammar in text messages.

BUT - as a schoolboy back in the 70s, I did write B4 Bcoz and that sort of thing. Was I ahead of my time?

Steve