Principled Spelling
Paperairplane, principle of Shalampax’s school, went on a spelling kick recently. Principle Paperairplane was determined to implement a policy that would fail any student who is not able to achieve an adequate score on a spelling test appropriate to his or her grade level.
Students protested against Principle Paperairplane’s policy because they think that learning spelling will be too difficult and time-consuming.
Parents protested because they fear that when their children learn how bad they are at spelling, it will negatively affect their self-esteem.
Teachers protested because they claim that teaching spelling exceeds the requirements of their collective agreement. Therefore, they claim, the policy should not be implemented until spelling instruction is included in their contract at some future date—something that they intend to fight against fiercely, and strike over if necessary, during contract negotiations. Teachers are also worried that their own pathetic spelling skills, not to mention those of the students, will become apparent when the test results come in.
