TXT language allowed in exams.

**Hitcher** · 9th November 2006, 08:57

After having had CPR administered after reading the front page of this morning's DominionPost, I am endeavouring to regain some equilibrium.

Again New Zealand's "educators" have revealed that they have no interest whatsoever in either education or standards. This hellbent pursuit of the lowest common denominator is designed to make life easier for the neanderthal politically-correct brigade that has infiltrated many government regulatory agencies. Among other things, that means that illiterate teachers don't want their lack of English skills exposed. I am aghast and appalled by this latest "development". I am sure that there will be carefully groomed spokespeople rolled out to defend this development or give it "context".

The bottom line is that another nail has been driven into the coffin of communication. My heart bleeds for future generations.

**bobsmith** · 9th November 2006, 09:01

I tell you, this is a part of the larger conspiracy to dumb down the general public so that the rule makers don't feel so dumb themselves, and so that they can control the future generations better.... First NCEA now this..... Hell English of general NZ population was shocking enough as it is (for an English speaking country), now it has taken a turn for the worse...

It's a sad day when 22 year old NZ born uni students have to come to me to proof read their assignments and hell I've seen some interesting grammar and spelling, and believe me, my English is far from brillient and it is my second language.

**Drunken Monkey** · 9th November 2006, 09:01

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

...You want to talk to me, do it in a way I can understand ...

I did, otherwise I would've just said "!f j00 |)0n'+ u|)3|25t4|\|d l337 +h3N j00 /\/\u5+ b t3H LL4M4 muhahahahaha!!!!!"

- but really, it goes for all threads. Kiwibiker doesn't need to perform an online dictionary function as well, reading the wikipedia article will answer most of your questions regarding a subject without others having to read a dozen replies of the same thing all in bits. If you see a term you don't understand, you can save yourself and everyone else from arrogant replies from pompous arseholes* like myself.

*BDOTGNZA approved.

**Pixie** · 9th November 2006, 09:01

Originally Posted by Squeak the Rat

At present it is only secondary schools, so Universities will hopefully not adopt this too. So, what's going to happen?

Rich educated people will continue to use the english language, while those in lower socio-economic groups will start developing a seperate dialect, written and oral. Long term we get ourselves a nice little class system going, easily identified by the way you talk, know wat i mean geezer innit?

And in 2 million years the txters will become morlocks and live underground,raiding the eloi communities while they sleep and capturing them for food.

**BuFfY** · 9th November 2006, 09:03

Hitcher, I am opposed to it! And I am ALMOST a teacher. My faculty (which is a teacher education one) does not allow us to have bad (or low) writing skills and those who are unable to write coherent essays do not pass the papers (me on the other hand... well I rock

)

High school teachers only do a year of teacher training because they have done their specialist training in the subject of their choice. So I do not know what level of writing they have to have.

**Pixie** · 9th November 2006, 09:10

As I have said before,It's Labour's Knowledge Economy
...The education ministry has been directed to be economical with knowledge.

**onearmedbandit** · 9th November 2006, 09:22

Let me guess, New Zealand is the only country in the world to allow this right?

**gijoe1313** · 9th November 2006, 09:25

As I sit here in my Year 11 classroom, my students are busy writing up their various submissions for internal assessments and practice essays.

I'm happen to report that I have managed to ban all txt l33t illama speak in their writing. At the younger year levels, it is an onerous task to try and diligently reinforce the idea that txt is not a valid way of expressing formal ideas.

Case in point : Getting my year 9 to write letters to a Tongan class, I informed them after their first attempts to include txt speak in their letters, could they consider the situation of Tongan students in regards to cellphones? They realised then, that possibly, just maybe, those students couldn't understand what they had "written".

Was a revelation to some. Victory!

However,I do weep when I see what we have to try and overcome in the course of a normal period

Schools need to have a cellphone jammer and anyone that needs to contact a student can do it the old fashioned way, through the school telephone system via reception

That's enough from me, time to let my class out to tutor time!

**Beemer** · 9th November 2006, 10:12

This absolutely horrifies me! What is the world coming to? Next we will be accepting text speak as verbal language and abbreviating everything we say!

The start of a slippery slope...

**Swoop** · 9th November 2006, 10:28

Originally Posted by bugjuice

If I were marking papers, I'd fail every single one that was uing that fucking stupid lazy lingo.

Originally Posted by BuFfY

It is hard enough with the terrible handwrititng!!

I actually mark assignments and examinations. The quality of handwriting and the "attempts" at spelling are challenge enough.
Answers with "txt" language are very few and far between and will remain that way if I have any input.
If an answer is constructed using txt, the resultant mark will read "X".
If a student answers the question with reasonable attempts at spelling and handwriting, can convey their thoughts across, then I will look at the content of their answer rather than penalise them for their written sins.

**pervert** · 9th November 2006, 10:34

Originally Posted by Drunken Monkey

1337 5p34|< 15 +3|-| L4n&ua&3 0f +3|-| +|2u3 \/\/uRd /\/\45t3|2 OMGLOLWTFBBQ!!!!!

You obviously have internet access. Try looking things up yourself for a change:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet_speak

Are you some kind of retard?

**The Pastor** · 9th November 2006, 10:46

Don't worry folks, the drinking age is still 18 so now they will have the excuse - I was too wasted to write propperly in my exam.

I serrioulsy cant belive how the hell this happend? Every english teacher I met thought txt msging lnguge ws th shts nly gud 4 wen u dnt hav a prpr kybrd nd a wrking hnds. yo wrs my crdits?

**Hitcher** · 9th November 2006, 11:02

Originally Posted by Beemer

This absolutely horrifies me! What is the world coming to? Next we will be accepting text speak as verbal language and abbreviating everything we say!

The start of a slippery slope...

Since breaking my collarbone earlier this year and not being able to drive or ride for several weeks, I have become a bus-bound commuter. Actually I am quite enjoying this, but that's another story. A feature of being a BBC is on a twice-daily basis having to sit or stand in proximity to that phenomenum otherwise known as The Teenage Girl(TM). There are hoardes of them on buses in both directions. They communicate in a manner that is marvellous to behold, involving simultaneous data exchange using a variety of expressions that bear scant resemblance to otherwise accepted verbal language use, like. Interestingly the more "affected" ones (Queen Mags rather than St Mary's) pronounce it "lake". Fascinating. I feel like David Attenborough, like.

**Drunken Monkey** · 9th November 2006, 11:17

Originally Posted by pervert

Are you some kind of retard?

Retards and idiots are defined by what they don't know, not what they do know.

For example, if one had the ability to log on to this website and post in the forums, but not know how to extend that ability to look something up on "Wikipedia" or the "Urban Dictionary"; and also have a complete and utter lack of the understanding of "irony", well that one might accurately be described as, how you so eloquently put it, "some kind of retard".

Pfffft.