Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

New Zealand To Allow 'Text-Speak' On Exams

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the beginning-of-the-end dept.

ScentCone writes "New Zealand's Qualification Authority (which sets testing standards for the public schools) is confident that those grading papers will understand the meaning of students' responses, even if they use phone/IM-style text-speak. From the article: 'credit will be given if the answer "clearly shows the required understanding," even if it contains text-speak.' Many teachers are not amused, and critics say that the move will devalue NZ's equivalent of a high school diploma." Not to mention that graders will need to be restrained so they don't gouge their own eyes out. While in the medium of text messages, some shorthand might be in order, but I didn't realize that world paper, pencil, and ink shortages were so severe so that text-speak is necessary everywhere.

8 of 421 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Are they kidding? by black+mariah · · Score: 5, Funny

    Proper spelling and grammar are unnatural constructs foisted upon the world by upper class tits that needed another way to make themselves feel special.

    --
    'Standards' in computing only impress those who are impressed by things like 'standards'.
  2. :P by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I 4 1 wlcm our txtg ovrlrds ...and let the stupid texting jokes begin!

  3. Re:Are they kidding? by Hope+Thelps · · Score: 5, Funny
    How are kids supposed to learn proper spelling & grammar?

    From Slashdot of course.
    --
    To summarise the summary of the summary: people are a problem. ~ h2g2
  4. Re:Are they kidding? by Hogwash+McFly · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pah, spelling and grammar is a holdover from stuffy, old academic rigidity. It has no place in today's classroom. We need to be moving forward as educators and leave all that 'history' behind. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a class on "Group sex: sharing can be caring" to teach to third graders.

    --
    Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
  5. Re:What's wrong with his post? by jawtheshark · · Score: 5, Funny

    You spelling and grammar knowlegde is perfectly fine, as far as I can tell (I'm a non english speaker though). On the other hand, you have serious problems with comprehension.

    --
    Ahhh...the great dumpster continuum. Many a free computer will be found there. -- sowth (748135)
  6. Re:The nature of language by joto · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's simply because "devolvation" is not dictionarified yet. But you comprehense it anyway.

  7. Re:What's wrong with his post? by thrillseeker · · Score: 5, Funny

    On the other hand, you have serious problems with comprehension.

    What?

  8. Re:What's wrong with his post? by kayditty · · Score: 5, Funny
    Sure there is.
    Proper spelling and grammar are unnatural constructs foisted upon the world by upper class tits that needed another way to make themselves feel special.
    Proper spelling and grammar are unnatural constructs which were foisted upon the world by upper class tits who needed another way to make themselves feel special.

    I fixed it for you guys.