Letter for publication in The Times and/or TES.

Michael Shaw writes about Powerpoint on page 3 of the 16 December issue of TESpro.  He refers to "a sepia photo of a classroom, taken at least a century ago, with pupils sat in neat rows in front of a blackboard.".  I venture to suggest that the photo originally carried the caption "Mrs Brown's classs with pupils sitting in neat rows ..".  Although Powerpoint has replaced chalk, to what extent do we need to turn the clock back regarding teaching English? 

Time Team was seen digging on a Free-view channel two weeks ago in Orkney.  Put "The Mystery of Mine Howe, Orkney" into Google.  ((23 days left on 20 Dec)) One of the educated diggers exclaims "I am stood on this stone...".

Do English teachers need to part with cash to find out what, if any, penalties their pupils will suffer if they write in this way?  William Stewart's coverage on p 8 of the same-date TES suggests such a possibility.

I am retired and have never been a time-served English teacher.  My encounter with TEFL training lasted four weeks and was sufficent to help me teach in fifteen countries while carrying out tourism development and related training.  My love of English continues through my retirement.

Alan F Harrison (Prof)  

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Note 1

I found the video but could not play it to verify if the quotation was included.  It is here.

Note 2a

The Times letter could be supplemented thus:

The same issue includes the teaching of "well-worn subjects like the Nazis".  I would like to hear from parents whose Primary school  off-spring have been/are/are about to engage in wartime projects.  Contact with their teachers would also be welcome

Note 2b

The TESpro letter could be supplemented thus:

When I saw the said front cover, I wondered if there would be an article "Who do you think you are kidding Mr Twigg, sir?  Don't let the "primary and early years get lost in that discussion.".   How much are they exposed to Mr Hitler?  I have experience as a piper in one school project on WW2 and wonder if any are in progress  in the lower West Midlands.  Contact with interested teachers UK-wide will be welcomed.  I would hope to help find a piper if so desired.  The project I mention covered life during that war.  Mr Hitler was not dominant.

Note 2c

Text etc from Note 3 can be used.  I can help produce the final letters.  The website in 3 is about to transfer to the Royal British Legion website provision for branches.

Note 3

Details of an event in 2012 are here.  Can I use your pic on pp 30/31 and if so, can I have the jpg, please?   The usual "About me " page is here.

Note 4

I hope to spark a nationwide Times project on "Speaking English Proper" and look forward to liaising with you.  This website could be a joint effort.

Any help with the WW2 etc project will be appreciated.  If there is to be an outcome re that and the English project, please advise me in advance so that local publicity can be set up.  I will also advise local schools.

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And now for Note 5. Added on 11 Jan 2012

I did not look to see if any letters were published.  However, this came back within five minutes of the original email:

On 21/12/2011 16:53, Shaw, Michael wrote: 

Dear Professor Harrison, 
 
Thank you for your thoughtful response to the error in my recent editorial. 
 
I often break grammar rules on purpose: you may also have noticed that my editorials are loaded with sentences that start with "And" and "But". Sometimes it gives me unalloyed pleasure to deliberately split infinitives. 
 
My reasons for this vary, although it is usually to shift pace and tone by adding unexpected colloquial touches. An "ain't" can be more striking than an "isn't". 
 
However, I will apologise for the instance you have highlighted. It is an error I have made twice recently, though on the other occasion I could claim it was semi-deliberate, to evoke the blunt forcefulness of the colloquial phrase "when you're sat at home". On this occasion, I can't even try to make that excuse.  
 
It is an embarrassing error, and my punishment will be that a primary school teacher somewhere will no doubt point it out mockingly in a grammar lesson, just as my own teachers enjoyed explaining the errors in advertisements. 
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
Michael Shaw 
 
 
   
Michael Shaw - editor of TESpro 
 
The Times Educational Supplement (TES) 
 
020 3194 3244 (direct) 3202 (fax)