DC's teacher says axing...

[Anonymous]

Definitely complain to the principle. Then s/he can fire that teacher and tap one of the dozens of certified teachers with perfect grammar and impeccable resumes who are just waiting in the wings to step in. Right? This whole thread seems kind of naive to me considering the realities of DCPS.

IMHO, kids are pretty smart about language variants and dialects. I went to primary school in rural southern VA and spoke very non-standard English. I was taught by AA and EA teachers that said "aks" (yeah, predominantly but not only just an AA thing), "had went", and lots of of other incorrect things. I learned more proper usage based on what was tolerated at home, and later what would not mark me as a redneck.

My concern would be more around grammar and written language. If a teacher cannot write grammatical, standard English, then I'd be concerned. If they can, I wouldn't worry. Your kids may grow up with a better understanding of language usage and variants than people who grow up in linguistically homogenous environments. My personal experience has always been that AA people who experience both dialect and standard English are more able than EA people to knowingly switch between the two than other people I know who have experienced various other English variants (e.g. Southern). I can't do this, and it has always impressed me.

[Anonymous]

Should be:

"are more able than EA people to knowingly switch between the two."

[Anonymous]

No one is suggesting that the teacher should be fired -- just that she should try to not mispronounce a common word.

As for the realities of DCPS - it's been about firing and riffing as many teachers as possible assuming that would make the scores go up (not). Now they've hired a lot of new people with great english but no teaching experience.

There's also a push for improved professional development. Perhaps English usage could be addressed, pointing out common mistakes like have went, him and I, irregardless, and axing.

A lot of people could benefit.

[Anonymous]

11:36 What a great suggestion. Non-judgemental, professional, and positive. I think that is what many of the other responses lacked.

[Anonymous]

I don't think you'll get consensus here that saying "axing" is incorrect. This is not a grammatical error but an accent. Unless you are going to require all teachers with accents (bilingual teachers at Oyster, anyone?) to speak perfect Northern / Midwestern English, you are fighting a losing battle, and are exposing yourself to all kinds of allegations of discrimination. "Have went," "him & I," I'm with you on - those are grammatical errors. But "axing" is a regional accent not a grammatical error.

My Kindergarten teacher when I was a kid was a holocaust survivor with a thick German accent. I do not have a German accent today. Your children will model YOUR way of speaking, not their teachers'

I know GS-15s in the Federal government who say "axe." It has no bearing on their performance, but does identify them as black.

[Anonymous]

My three kids had caregivers/teachers that used axe instead of ask, and they grew out of it. We have retained "y'all" and a few others . . .

[Anonymous]

we've been through this - ax is not part of an accent. It's a mispronounced word. It's not a grammatical error like 'have went' but fits in the category of non-standard usage - in my mind and I think in many others -- some who don't mind it and others who do.

Teachers originally from Pittsburgh would naturally say 'still mill' without knowing it's mispronounced. They know the difference between the words still and steel, but pronounce them the same way. I think for the sake of their students, they should learn to say steel mill. They could even make a linguistics lesson out of it by pointing the differences between here and there and that steel mill is the accepted standard pronunciation and the one that will be used in school.

I'd put still mill on the list of usage to avoid in school along with axing, have went, etc.

[Anonymous]

Alls you gotta do is ax.

[Anonymous]

White people who say "youns" should also be fired.

Also white women over 35 who do not have athletic legs should be wrestled to the ground and forced to where burka. Flabby knee pockets with varicose veins: you will be thrashed with corn stalks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I ain't about to be cringin' at no liberians or Nazi spiders!

I posted this. I am black and grew up in Georgia. When some of my older relatives spoke I wished for subtitles. This whole thread just makes me laugh.

[Anonymous]

As an interesting side note, my mother (white) speaks 5 languages. English was her 3rd (and it is accented) because of her first language she sometimes says ax (for ask)

I'm wondering if you would think her an unfit teacher? She taught me to speak and I say "ask" just fine. I also have no trace of any accent in either of the two languages I speak.

[Anonymous]

OMG...why has this thread been dug up from the graveyard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:White people who say "youns" should also be fired.

Also white women over 35 who do not have athletic legs should be wrestled to the ground and forced to where burka. Flabby knee pockets with varicose veins: you will be thrashed with corn stalks.

Any teacher who says "youns" should be told it's incorrect and shouldn't be used in school. The rest of the post above is just an attempt dismiss what is apparently an uncomfortable topic for many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an interesting side note, my mother (white) speaks 5 languages. English was her 3rd (and it is accented) because of her first language she sometimes says ax (for ask)

I'm wondering if you would think her an unfit teacher? She taught me to speak and I say "ask" just fine. I also have no trace of any accent in either of the two languages I speak.

I'd say that any teacher needs to make a real attempt to be understood by his/her students.

There's a difference between having an accent and and using poor grammar or pronunciation because you don't know any better and even though you are a teacher, no one mentions it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White people who say "youns" should also be fired.

Also white women over 35 who do not have athletic legs should be wrestled to the ground and forced to where burka. Flabby knee pockets with varicose veins: you will be thrashed with corn stalks.

Any teacher who says "youns" should be told it's incorrect and shouldn't be used in school. The rest of the post above is just an attempt dismiss what is apparently an uncomfortable topic for many.

Youns should try telling a teacher that. Just ax her.