Ax vs Ask

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was the reason I wanted my child in the Spanish Immersion program so he wouldn't pick up those type of bad habits. I observed an AA teacher in another class yelling at her all AA students using "AA dialect" I could barely understand a word she said. If you want to speak that way at home among your friends that's one thing, but don't bring it into the classroom.

Wow. These are the times when I know I need a serious break from DCUM. This is about the 4th ongoing thread of "let's heap on the negative African American stereotyping". An incredible amount of ignorance from such "educated" people. Just try your best not to pass it on to your kids. Do your part to break the cycle. I, for one, know my kids will be learning to treat people as individuals instead of thinking they know anything about them just by looking at their skin color. Which is all these stereotypes are good for. Much easier than actually getting to know someone.

This was not a stereotype, it was what I heard and my own observation at my school. Would every AA teacher be the same way? I don't know, but I still say all teachers should set a good example. I just don't see how this is racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was not a stereotype, it was what I heard and my own observation at my school. Would every AA teacher be the same way? I don't know, but I still say all teachers should set a good example. I just don't see how this is racist.

I agree - this is not racist. If the teacher were yelling in a nearly incomprehensible Boston accent or in Mexican slang, I'd feel the same way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was the reason I wanted my child in the Spanish Immersion program so he wouldn't pick up those type of bad habits. I observed an AA teacher in another class yelling at her all AA students using "AA dialect" I could barely understand a word she said. If you want to speak that way at home among your friends that's one thing, but don't bring it into the classroom.

Wow. These are the times when I know I need a serious break from DCUM. This is about the 4th ongoing thread of "let's heap on the negative African American stereotyping". An incredible amount of ignorance from such "educated" people. Just try your best not to pass it on to your kids. Do your part to break the cycle. I, for one, know my kids will be learning to treat people as individuals instead of thinking they know anything about them just by looking at their skin color. Which is all these stereotypes are good for. Much easier than actually getting to know someone.

This was not a stereotype, it was what I heard and my own observation at my school. Would every AA teacher be the same way? I don't know, but I still say all teachers should set a good example. I just don't see how this is racist.

Well, I didn't say it was racist anywhere, so that's your first assumption. I didn't say your first hand experience was a stereotype either. Choosing Spanish Immersion as the way for your son to avoid picking up "those type of bad habits" is to assume that ALL the other teachers don't speak proper English. You are also assuming that ALL the Spanish Immersion teachers do speak proper English. There is no way possible for you to know either! But, somehow, this is what you believe. If you don't see the generalizations and stereotyping all over your post, and this entire thread, then I can't help you.
It is also very interesting to me that while there probably isn't anyone on this board that uses ax instead of ask, very few can put together a grammatically correct sentence. So while everyone is busy sneering about their kids not learning all these "bad habits", it's obvious they mean only the "bad habits" spoken by certain people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm AA and "ax" is one of my pet peeves. It really irritates me and suposedly educated people should know better. But I'm a stickler for good diction and grammar. Which is why my kids are now in private school.

I bet there's no educated parent here, regardless of ethnicity, who would want their kid to continue saying ax once they left that teacher.

To me that says that people know ax is wrong and uneducated. Personally I think if you care about that teacher and her future students, you'll get the word to her that ax is wrong.

I'm not a linguist, but I think she could be trained to make the change - and would want to - for the sake of the children.

there are a couple of common words that are difficult for me to pronounce properly - nothing regional - just me - and I've found ways to deal with it that make me more understandable

What are the ways you deal with it?

I use synonyms or slow down, which improves my enunciation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my children were at school where the teachers all said 'ax.' we didn't do anything about it b/c they were young - DS just turned 5 and left the old school at 4. However, she has had a very hard time changing this prononciation, and I think that is VERY important. She has always been very articulate, clear, speaker however simlpy correcting her was not enough. Now three months later we are still working on this. So if she was even older, I would be more upset. I let this go in a daycare setting, but school??? come one people, we don't really think this is ok, do we?

And yes, simply 'correcting' your child won't do much. Every time you say, "Don't say ax' what your child hears is 'ax'. Model the standard pronunciation (ask),recast what she says back to her "What did you wish to ask me?', and when he/she is ready to talk about language --discuss the difference. It does sound like the early exposure did influence your child's language formation. It will take time to reconfigure. I agree that if all your child hears in school is 'ax' you may be in for some road bumps. If it is one teacher, I would take a deep breath and wait it out.

Oy! At the point when I have to correct the mistakes of my child's teachers, it is time to leave the school. "Ax" is as unacceptable as "ain't" from a grammar school teacher (and I'm embarrassed for you if you can't understand that - because it means you are part of the low-standards problem of DCPS).

If it is acceptable for you to be unable to speak Standard English? Then we have arrived at the bright line where my child is too good for your school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Who cares if your child has a teacher that uses ax? Really.

No teacher is ever using an ax on my child. What is this, a slasher flick?

+1 Funny!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It is also very interesting to me that while there probably isn't anyone on this board that uses ax instead of ask, very few can put together a grammatically correct sentence. So while everyone is busy sneering about their kids not learning all these "bad habits", it's obvious they mean only the "bad habits" spoken by certain people.

First of all, it's ridiculous to say that very few people here can put together a grammatically correct sentence.

Secondly, it's ridiculous to suggest that people here wouldn't mind having their kids pick up bad habits from teachers who aren't black.

non-standard English is non-standard English no matter what the origin.

[Anonymous]

My kids are in DCPS and I graduated from a DCPS. We don't say "axe" at home, but my son (3rd grade) was saying it regularly and now intermittently. We would simply correct him when he said it, as we correct his other pronunciation mistakes. If the teacher has multiple inadequacies, then I can see adding this mispronunciation to a list to be discussed with the Principal. If the teacher is absolutely wonderful and happens to use a regional accent to pronounce this one word, then I think the OP needs real problems with which to deal. Interestingly my daughter, who has been through years of speech therapy, does not pronounce this word incorrectly. I agree that it is incorrect, I confess that I have words that I pronounce less-than-perfectly, and I suspect that most of you wouldn't appreciate having someone nitpick at you at work. Pick your battles people. I would be more bothered by mines (rather than mine), personally, as that is improper grammar as opposed to improper pronunciation.

Anyway, seriously, some people need actual problems. I would really suggest you not anger the person who is going to be working with your child until June over a mispronunciation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in DCPS and I graduated from a DCPS. We don't say "axe" at home, but my son (3rd grade) was saying it regularly and now intermittently. We would simply correct him when he said it, as we correct his other pronunciation mistakes. If the teacher has multiple inadequacies, then I can see adding this mispronunciation to a list to be discussed with the Principal. If the teacher is absolutely wonderful and happens to use a regional accent to pronounce this one word, then I think the OP needs real problems with which to deal. Interestingly my daughter, who has been through years of speech therapy, does not pronounce this word incorrectly. I agree that it is incorrect, I confess that I have words that I pronounce less-than-perfectly, and I suspect that most of you wouldn't appreciate having someone nitpick at you at work. Pick your battles people. I would be more bothered by mines (rather than mine), personally, as that is improper grammar as opposed to improper pronunciation.

Anyway, seriously, some people need actual problems. I would really suggest you not anger the person who is going to be working with your child until June over a mispronunciation.

Thank you!!! They refuse to hear this argument for some reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It is also very interesting to me that while there probably isn't anyone on this board that uses ax instead of ask, very few can put together a grammatically correct sentence. So while everyone is busy sneering about their kids not learning all these "bad habits", it's obvious they mean only the "bad habits" spoken by certain people.

First of all, it's ridiculous to say that very few people here can put together a grammatically correct sentence.

Secondly, it's ridiculous to suggest that people here wouldn't mind having their kids pick up bad habits from teachers who aren't black.

non-standard English is non-standard English no matter what the origin.

I often make mistakes here because I am trying to type too fast; it doesn't mean I don't have a good grasp of grammar. I am consistently impressed with the writing -- and thinking -- I read here.

FWIW, four out of the five teachers my DC have had so far have been white, and they ALL habitually sent home newsletters full of grammatically incorrect sentences. Guess what? Didn't bother anyone.....wonder why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in DCPS and I graduated from a DCPS. We don't say "axe" at home, but my son (3rd grade) was saying it regularly and now intermittently. We would simply correct him when he said it, as we correct his other pronunciation mistakes. If the teacher has multiple inadequacies, then I can see adding this mispronunciation to a list to be discussed with the Principal. If the teacher is absolutely wonderful and happens to use a regional accent to pronounce this one word, then I think the OP needs real problems with which to deal. Interestingly my daughter, who has been through years of speech therapy, does not pronounce this word incorrectly. I agree that it is incorrect, I confess that I have words that I pronounce less-than-perfectly, and I suspect that most of you wouldn't appreciate having someone nitpick at you at work. Pick your battles people. I would be more bothered by mines (rather than mine), personally, as that is improper grammar as opposed to improper pronunciation.

Anyway, seriously, some people need actual problems. I would really suggest you not anger the person who is going to be working with your child until June over a mispronunciation.

Thank you!!! They refuse to hear this argument for some reason.

We hear it, but some of us disagree with it. One thing we all seem to agree on is that we don't want our kids saying "ax" once they leave that teacher.

I suggest that you not assume the teacher will be angered by pointing out her incorrect useage. Most educated people want to know they are speaking proprerly. Teachers have an obligation to do so.

[Anonymous]

So very sad that some parents even have to wonder which is worse, for a teacher to have bad grammar or bad pronunciation.

These low standards are the reason why DCPS is terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was the reason I wanted my child in the Spanish Immersion program so he wouldn't pick up those type of bad habits. I observed an AA teacher in another class yelling at her all AA students using "AA dialect" I could barely understand a word she said. If you want to speak that way at home among your friends that's one thing, but don't bring it into the classroom.

Wow. These are the times when I know I need a serious break from DCUM. This is about the 4th ongoing thread of "let's heap on the negative African American stereotyping". An incredible amount of ignorance from such "educated" people. Just try your best not to pass it on to your kids. Do your part to break the cycle. I, for one, know my kids will be learning to treat people as individuals instead of thinking they know anything about them just by looking at their skin color. Which is all these stereotypes are good for. Much easier than actually getting to know someone.

This was not a stereotype, it was what I heard and my own observation at my school. Would every AA teacher be the same way? I don't know, but I still say all teachers should set a good example. I just don't see how this is racist.

Well, I didn't say it was racist anywhere, so that's your first assumption. I didn't say your first hand experience was a stereotype either. Choosing Spanish Immersion as the way for your son to avoid picking up "those type of bad habits" is to assume that ALL the other teachers don't speak proper English. You are also assuming that ALL the Spanish Immersion teachers do speak proper English. There is no way possible for you to know either! But, somehow, this is what you believe. If you don't see the generalizations and stereotyping all over your post, and this entire thread, then I can't help you.
It is also very interesting to me that while there probably isn't anyone on this board that uses ax instead of ask, very few can put together a grammatically correct sentence. So while everyone is busy sneering about their kids not learning all these "bad habits", it's obvious they mean only the "bad habits" spoken by certain people.

No, of course you didn't come out and say that. You merely said that there were a lot of posts on this thread that bordered on racism, then wimped out when asked to provide an example. Oh, I never said you were a racist, I just said that many here who have a problem with a school teacher using "axe" instead of "ask" were tinged with racism.

Pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my children were at school where the teachers all said 'ax.' we didn't do anything about it b/c they were young - DS just turned 5 and left the old school at 4. However, she has had a very hard time changing this prononciation, and I think that is VERY important. She has always been very articulate, clear, speaker however simlpy correcting her was not enough. Now three months later we are still working on this. So if she was even older, I would be more upset. I let this go in a daycare setting, but school??? come one people, we don't really think this is ok, do we?

And yes, simply 'correcting' your child won't do much. Every time you say, "Don't say ax' what your child hears is 'ax'. Model the standard pronunciation (ask),recast what she says back to her "What did you wish to ask me?', and when he/she is ready to talk about language --discuss the difference. It does sound like the early exposure did influence your child's language formation. It will take time to reconfigure. I agree that if all your child hears in school is 'ax' you may be in for some road bumps. If it is one teacher, I would take a deep breath and wait it out.

Oy! At the point when I have to correct the mistakes of my child's teachers, it is time to leave the school. "Ax" is as unacceptable as "ain't" from a grammar school teacher (and I'm embarrassed for you if you can't understand that - because it means you are part of the low-standards problem of DCPS).

If it is acceptable for you to be unable to speak Standard English? Then we have arrived at the bright line where my child is too good for your school.

<snark>This seems extremely tinged with racism to me. After all, just because your child happens to end up with one or more teachers who can't speak standard English doesn't mean no black person can speak correctly. You should ignore it, and try to do damage control afterwards. Othewise...RACIST!</snark>

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you've read the entire discussion and you don't see the few (notice I said a few, not "anyone who disagrees with me") off-the-wall posts that are obviously meant to be offensive, me quoting the posts won't change your mind.

Wow. I would've thought you could have quoted at least one instance. Carry on.

NP here

Hey, are you really this obtuse PP. Or, are you just playing the part. If it is an act, you are doing a darn good job.