Who is runnin our schoolz?
- Thread starter gturner
- Start date
English is a language that steals from other languages and it's constantly changing or adapting from other languages. It's not even spoken or written the same as it was a century ago but grammar nazis still fight to the bitter end for their version of "proper" grammar. There are some basics left unchanged and it shouldn't be just given to the wind and let go but at the same time you can't expect it to stay static forever too.
^^ There's a difference between evolution and getting it wrong. Realizing that there's no reason not to split an infinitive is evolution; "that shown" and "to many" is wrong.
Thankfully, the Academics finally realized that English isn't Latin, so splitting an infinitive is no longer considered wrong.
Eh, I'd consider that optional.
It makes sense in context, as she was responding to the phrasing of a specific sentence. You're right about the "to be taught," though.
I know that, and I was being facetious about the “split infinitive” thing. But, IMO, “I was told that I was to no longer teach grammar to my students” sounds klutzy. ”I was told that I was no longer to teach” sounds better.
It's not an option. It's the same as writing Go to the store get me a carton of milk.
Thank you for proofreading my writing. I appreciate your attention to detail.
No, it's the same as writing Go to the store then get me a carton of milk, which may be redundant but isn't wrong. I'd use 'and' or a comma to control the rhythm of the sentence (as I could have before the 'but' in my last sentence), but all three options are correct.
The sentence Go to the store before it closes is correct. It consists of an independent clause followed by a dependent clause.
Go to the store then get me a carton of milk is a run-on. It's a compound sentence consisting of two independent clauses; therefore, the two clauses must be joined by:
A) a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so);
B) a conjunctive adverb (e.g. however, therefore); or
C) a semicolon alone.
May 20, your opinion?
Oh, and as regards dangling participles, one of my favorites is: If swallowed, do not induce vomiting.
You mean like Jonah in the Bible?
Well, 'then' is a conjunctive adverb, so the sentence is not a run on by your definition.
From Wikipedia (under conjunctive adverb):Well, 'then' is a conjunctive adverb, so the sentence is not a run on by your definition.
The following rules are considered to be correct punctuation for conjunctive adverbs:
* Use a semicolon or period before the conjunctive adverb to separate two independent clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb. A conjunctive adverb is not strong enough to join two independent clauses without the aid of a semicolon. (Emphasis added.)
* Use a comma following the conjunctive adverb when it appears at the beginning of the second clause unless the adverb is one syllable.
Aaah, the hell with it. You go to your church, I'll go to mine. This discussion is getting to be a bit of a circle jerk.
So . . . Who IS runnin our schoolz?
gturner, Otis Mathis has a learning disability. He admits it, freely. It took him ten years to get his undergraduate degree. As he said, "You survive. You made it. Now, you're telling me people with disabilities can't be leaders."
Consider this quote from the link I give below:
A professor at Wright State pointed out his disability to him. But he perservered. Anyone who takes ten years to get his degree should be admired for his efforts. That sets an example for anyone else in his shoes.
I pronounce, "FAIL" on this thread. Fie on you, gturner, for not putting Mathis's disability in its proper context, and for essentially disparaging his character and competence.
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/new...President-Otis-Mathis-Talks-about-His-Grammar
Edited to correct grammur and spellling.
Huh, uh. If you count high school as grades 9 through 12, then there can be four years of algebra and the other stuff offered. Or, he took extra courses. Unless you can specifically show me that his high school's curriculum didn't offer these things and the Fox News report of his background is inaccurate or lying.
If his story speakst to a failed education system at all, it's that he was put in special education in elementary school even though he didn't belong there.
As far as his major in college goes v. his math skills, so what? And, it took him ten years to get his degree because of his disability. In this case, his inablity to communicate well in writing must speak nothing of his intelligence or abilty to administrate or lead. Or that he received a bad education.
Somebody's using his disability for political advantage. That stinks. Simply stinks.
If his story speakst to a failed education system at all, it's that he was put in special education in elementary school even though he didn't belong there.
As far as his major in college goes v. his math skills, so what? And, it took him ten years to get his degree because of his disability. In this case, his inablity to communicate well in writing must speak nothing of his intelligence or abilty to administrate or lead. Or that he received a bad education.
Somebody's using his disability for political advantage. That stinks. Simply stinks.
Algebra I is a prerequisite for geometry. Algebra I can in some cases be stretched to a two-year course. Then comes a year of geometry, but somehow he had two years of it. You're already up to four years. Next he takes Algebra II, which is only a one year course, but I guess he took it twice. He's up to six years. Then comes a year of trig (or pre-calculus), followed by a year of calculus. Was he on the eight year high-school program, or is one of his jobs as president of the school board rewriting his own academic records? It makes me wonder if he also took Brain Surgery I and Brain Surgery II.
Aside from that, I don't care if he's disabled. He's in charge of 90,000 students. Don't they matter? Don't their futures matter? Only one out of four students under his care manages to graduate, the worst record of any large school system in the nation. I'd be pleased as punch if he'd made millions in the chocolate chip cookie business, but he's not in that position. People in positions of responsibility or authority that impact thousands of lives shouldn't be given all kinds of extra special excuses to cover their failings in the job due to their disabilities.
No blind airline pilots.
No brain surgeons with Parkinson's disease.
No educators who can't read and write.
Exactly.
And no female firefighters who can't properly do the job because they're not as physically strong as a man, all in the name of “gender equality.” If a job requires certain standards, then those same standards should apply to everbody. It's time to put a stop to this P.C. nonsense.
Can't read or write? Who said he can't read? And, other than not being able to write, who said he can't otherwise commuicate in English as good as anybody's?
P.C.? C'mon. Hardly. This man was elected to this position.
Helen Keller may not have been qualified to drive a school bus, but do you think she should she have been disqualified from serving on a school board because of her disabilities? The man is an intelligent, functioning human being who for some reason cannot get thoughts onto paper. He should probably just dictate as much as he can.
Steven Hawking can't write. Guess he shouldn't be on school board either.
No one said this guy doesn't know grammar or syntax or any of that. He apparently speaks very well. He just can't get his thoughts on paper. Period.
It's too bad that you can't see through the disability to judge him on if he's communicating good ideas and addressing real problems. Give me examples of this man's incompetence on the job. Show me things other than his disability that disqualify him from the job. Then, explain to me again how his disability disqualifies him summarily.
As far as his math background goes, contact Fox News Detroit about it. They're the ones who provided that information unattributed. I'm just quoting their story.
P.C.? C'mon. Hardly. This man was elected to this position.
Helen Keller may not have been qualified to drive a school bus, but do you think she should she have been disqualified from serving on a school board because of her disabilities? The man is an intelligent, functioning human being who for some reason cannot get thoughts onto paper. He should probably just dictate as much as he can.
Steven Hawking can't write. Guess he shouldn't be on school board either.
No one said this guy doesn't know grammar or syntax or any of that. He apparently speaks very well. He just can't get his thoughts on paper. Period.
It's too bad that you can't see through the disability to judge him on if he's communicating good ideas and addressing real problems. Give me examples of this man's incompetence on the job. Show me things other than his disability that disqualify him from the job. Then, explain to me again how his disability disqualifies him summarily.
As far as his math background goes, contact Fox News Detroit about it. They're the ones who provided that information unattributed. I'm just quoting their story.
^^ You make a valid point, actually. I know some very intelligent people-- one in particular-- who have some strange mental block with spelling.
Heh. I think we're in a gray area. Wiki may not like that particular construction, but it passes Grammar Check in WordPerfect.
Franklin, Detroit Public Schools are ranked at the bottom of 50 major school districts. Otis Mathis is currently engaged in a turf battle with the governor-appointed supervisor that has all the teachers and parents totally bewildered and uncertain of what they should do.
Last year the Detroit Free Press said, "The culture of low educational expectations and excuse-making runs too deep with DPS." Well yeah, obviously it does.
Education Week found that their graduation rate was less than 25%. The Bill Gates foundation did a report and found the rate was less than 22%. But the Detroit Public School system claims the graduation rate is over 67%.
Either Bill Gates or Otis Mathis is a math genius, but not both.
Last year the Detroit Free Press said, "The culture of low educational expectations and excuse-making runs too deep with DPS." Well yeah, obviously it does.
Education Week found that their graduation rate was less than 25%. The Bill Gates foundation did a report and found the rate was less than 22%. But the Detroit Public School system claims the graduation rate is over 67%.
Either Bill Gates or Otis Mathis is a math genius, but not both.
That's fine. If he's not effective at doing his job, that's one thing. If people have honest disagreements with his polcies and accomplishment, that's fine, too.
I just find it deplorable that some would go after the guy for what is an honest disability. The disability alone doesn't disqualify him for the job, so why even bring it up? I don't see what points are scored by doing it. Well, I do, I just don't like it. Hed ov Deetro-it skoolz kant rite. Figyours.
