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Poorly Spelled in Ohio

By Robert Stacy McCain on 10.16.08 @ 7:55PM

Given my own propensity for glitches and typos, I hate to bust on "Poor in Ohio" for her error. On the other hand, it is apparent that at some point since I finished college a quarter-century ago, English teachers stopped deducting points for errors of spelling, capitalization and punctuation.

We have witnessed the triumph of what might be called the "expressive" school of composition, where the whole point is to share what one truly feels. Concern for orthography is deemed incompatible with such sharing and feeling.

Frankly, I never thought I'd become so nostalgic for the grim and grizzled teachers of my youth, who wielded their red grading pens with an emphatic indifference to their student's feelings.

Poor college chick in Ohio| 10.17.08 @ 9:54AM

So I really didn’t expect any type of response, but since I actually got some responses and am incline to defend my point since my eloquence was a little short that day. I have taken the time to respond to each individual since all of you felt strongly about one specific point. Scott: I am not saying in anyway that college is the only way of reach the quarter million mark; it just seems the most logical and least like a gamble, and maybe even a little quicker then working for someone for years before finally hitting that mark. I don’t think that my way is in anyway the best route or the worst route. It’s just a route. And as for the giving and being taxed… yes they are different but they are also very similar. When we are taxed the money is put back into the people’s wallets through public works that create jobs, this money is given to schools, it is put into social programs like Medicare and Medicaid, it goes to paying off our National Debt, for protection, etc. I know that not all the money goes where it probably should but the way in which people act about taxes, may be a little miss guided. It’s not like the government is going all-bandito with our money and running away with it, they are trying (and not always trying their best) to filter it back through the system and the people. I thank Joe for serving his country that is amazing. But you say he “gave” for four years. Are you suggesting that there should be a time cap on how long someone should have to five to their country? That after a certain amount of time we are absolved of any responsibilities to our nation? Anita: Hahaha… Of course Joe has given more in taxes than I have: he’s about 15 years my senior and has the time to make more money than I could ever imagine. I don’t think that going to college has made me better than anyone! I work hard doing a job that numbs my mind just so I can have the money for school. Then, I top of work 40 hours a week, I get to spend the same amount of time studying, going to class, and doing work that will be going to my masters. We all work hard, so not as much but we all work hard to achieve that “American dream.” And he is kind of greedy. If I am ever so lucky as to make a quarter of a million a year, why shouldn’t I pay more in taxes than someone making 40,000 a year? I have more to give. You are probably right that people will be more willing to spend money on Joe’s services than mine, since I am getting a degree in Literature and no one really needs someone to come over and tighten their Shakespeare for them, you are right on that count. I do not consider the money that I spend on college as my way of giving back to society. No, when I can I am a volunteer tutor and I give what money I can spare back to local charities, which I know is not much but I don’t really make much (that’s just how it goes for college kids, but I cut out little luxuries like cable and home internet so I can give). I know that it is not much but I truly believe that if everyone and I mean EVERYONE would do just a little to give back we could all live better lives. Ruth: Your reaction scares me. When did I ever say that I felt entitled to anything? I don’t think that I deserve anything, nor do I want anything. I intended to spend the next couple of years, hell may be ten or so, scrounging around for the change to get a dollar cheese burger at McDonald’s during bill week and you know what, that suits me just fine. I cannot argue that there are not flaws in the welfare system. There are plenty of people that do take advantage of it. But to much of your dismay, I am not one of them. But should we allow a few flaws to put an end to aid for those who do need it? I have always been one of those people who would leave welfare to those who truly needed it, I would just have to go without some things, however, in the current state of our economy these types of social programs need to stay, because the sad fact of reality is: If things don’t get any better we could all wind up in line at the soup kitchen. Jim: Thank you for being a glimmer of hope! J. Peter Freire: Poignant… thank you. I can see your point with in terms of your argument with Joe-hiring-people-government-taking-money-he-can’t-put-back-his-business. This is very true I had really thought of it that way. And may be there needs to be some type of plan for small business in comparison to big business because, I must admit, when I first read this I thought: “Wow, so is he saying we should take business like Shell or Wal-mart?” And hopefully I am wrong in this assumption, but I can see your point in terms of a small business. And do you truly believe your last statement: “When the government takes money, it isn't saying ‘Help us out here.’ It is saying, ‘We can use this better than you can.’ Time and again, it's proven wrong.” I am not going to argue against this because many, many people are incline to agree with you, but to me this is just raging cynicism. Have we all really lost that much faith in our government? We live in one of the greatest nations in the world and this is how we feel? It just saddens me. May be I am still just too young and too naïve, but I want to believe that if our government can keep us as the last remaining superpower in the world that the have got to be doing something right. Steven: I know that many people believe that FASFA is just standing around showering kids with free college money, but here’s the secret: NO ITS NOT! I had to pay for college out of my own pocket. However, with the way FASFA works, I had to not only claim the income I was making in high school working at a grocery store for barely minimum wage, BUT ALSO my parents and with all that combined income, I got fiddly. I have known several people who have received nothing from the government, but got lucky when it came to direct scholarships from the college. I have even had a couple of friends that I was so sure would get something from the government (may be not much but something) just because they were minorities and they got nothing. May be I just don’t know the right people, but with the people that I know, I have seen no government aid. And to the rest who have nothing else to say but pick on grammar: I am so sorry that it offends you so. I was caught up in a moment, still feeling the tiny aneurysm I had had the night before whilst watching the political debate. I have run this one through the spell check but I am sure that since you all speak perfect English you will find something to pick out.

midge| 10.17.08 @ 5:50PM

"poor college chick" -- i feel really bad that you were picked on, and i admire that you took the time to explain your point of view. right on. i have a lot of admiration for you, working as many hours as you do and still getting an education; in college, i was on tons of (need-based) scholarships and had a part-time job (and LOANS!), but i didn't need to work nearly as much as you do. that's really amazing.

i'd like to respond to robert stacy mccain. as a HUGE stickler for spelling and grammar, i am as dismayed as you are that the educational system has shunted aside the importance of grammar, usage, etc.

however -- at a teachers' informational meeting i attended at a local community college (i live in new york), we were told not to worry about grading for grammar and spelling. this was upsetting, but not surprising. if you talk to any public school teacher in this city, at least, you'll be shocked by how overwhelmingly behind kids are by the time they reach middle school. there's just no way -- with funding being what it is, and atrocious student-teacher ratios -- that a teacher could possibly mark every single typo and usage error in each of her students' papers. it's distressing but true, and it has nothing to do with liberal-hippie B.S. about "feelings" rather than "knowledge," etc. (i don't know whether you were joking about that, but after reading the other stuff on this site, i don't think you are.) the kids are already so behind by the time they are old enough to learn about basic writing skills that the most teachers can hope for is to help their students get their ideas across in a comprehensible way.

(Head Start programs have worked miracles on low-income kids though. FYI.)

as for your site's new format, i don't like it but i do love that we can now make comments. for some reason, when i tried to do that on the old site, i just got linked to a dead page.

(maybe the old site could magically tell i really like andrew sullivan, or something.)