Do We Really Need Grammar?
An article about the deplorable decline in the teaching and use of correct grammar in the UK.
For some some incomprehensible reason, way back in the swinging ’60s, the UK government decided grammar wasn’t important enough to be taught in state schools. I cannot confirm whether this is the case in private or grammar schools – excuse the pun – but I strongly suspect they teach it as an added bonus for their lucky pupils…
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The results of this decision are, ever since the ’90s, leading universities have been complaining that students arrive, after studying for their A-levels at college, without a good, solid, grounding in the grammatical structure of their first language! Students who haven’t chosen to study English any further than GCSE level may have little or no grammatical knowledge, whatsoever – yet are expected to write essays, etc, at degree level – and pass! This seems slightly unreasonable…
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We all know language changes subtly over the years, but can we really get by without basic grammar? Teachers in the UK aren’t required to have studied English any further than GCSE level, which means new teachers are marking work and possibly missing serious errors – which will become habitual for the writer, if not corrected – and all because they were never taught the correct way when they attended school!
To prove my point take a look at the following response from a YR10 teacher from the UK, which I found on a forum. I won’t point out the mistakes as I’m sure there’s no need. Remember a teacher like this is responsible for marking your children’s GCSE coursework…
“Would be happy to share resources – have tons as its ben taught by 12 teachers concurrently to all students as we’re a core dept and a very large school (1842 last count). Anything in particular?
I know there’s an awful lot of resisitance and scepticism but I love it. Am teaching two Y10 set sixes and they like loads as they see it as been so relevant and important (this is without been told how relevant and important it is I might add which i think speaks for itself!)“
This is wholly unacceptable and completely outrageous!
It is also strange to note that the US government decided in the exact same time period that it does feel grammar is an important issue and promptly began teaching it as part of their national curriculum. I have a friend who attended school in India and she was taught English grammar there. It seems just about everyone is learning English grammar except the Brits!
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8 Responses to “Do We Really Need Grammar?”
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August 25th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
very interesting information…
August 25th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
You summed up my feelings perfectly. This is the same here in the states, whereby children learn nothing of conjugation, spelling, tenses, etc. And they wonder why we don’t understand them? LOL It’s because of relaxed attitudes within the educational system overall. As well, parents are to blame, e.g. since the schools gave up, the parents felt no need to ever correct or instill. I do however correct my kids every chance I have as I was taught that when speaking, one should speak properly no matter what. Sorry for going on, I feel this is a major issue everywhere. Michael
August 25th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
I am surprised the Britain doesn’t teach English.I didn’t know that.
August 25th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
@ Ruby Hawk – they teach English but not grammar. It doesn’t matter any more, you see. *sigh*
August 25th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
@ Michael – then it seems my source was wrong as it claimed grammar is now taught in the US. What a crazy situation this is. *more sighing*
I bought a few books for my son’s home-schooling (although they’ll be helping me, too, I’m sure) from Amazon: My Grammar and I, Line By Line, and Your Writing Coach. I’m reading My grammar & I and it’s a brilliant book full of (surprisingly) grammar, punctuation and spelling rules – exactly what every child in the country should be getting for Christmas! It’s actually very entertaining way and I even found myself laughing out loud a few times at the author’s bizarre sense of humour.
August 27th, 2009 at 11:09 am
This is crazy!! Here in the states most schools focus on grammar!!
August 27th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Well if most schools focus on grammar in the U.S. it doesn’t necessarily mean they do a good job of it.
November 9th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
There are reasons English teachers do not want to teach grammar. Check out http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/grammar_mechanics/six-reasons-why-we-don%E2%80%99t-teach-grammar/.