New Zealand To Allow 'Text-Speak' On Exams

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.

Comments

Are they kidding?

[Announcer]

How are kids supposed to learn proper spelling & grammar?

Anyone remember "Ebonics"?

Re:Are they kidding?

[black mariah]

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

Re:Are they kidding?

[Hope Thelps]

How are kids supposed to learn proper spelling & grammar?

From Slashdot of course.

Re:Are they kidding?

[Anonymous Coward]

shit ya yo. fucking titties fucking uppah claas fukin titties yo. grammuh only dare to keeps the fucking lower class down yo!

Me shud B a fucking cee Eee OOh dat a fuckin' coperashun.

fuck yo!

cuz speelin dont be making you any smartur.fuck.

Re:Are they kidding?

[Hogwash McFly]

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.

:P

[Anonymous Coward]

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

Plain inaccurate

[mscnln]

Bali Haque, deputy chief executive of the authority, said there had been no change to guidelines and there was no specific policy about text language. However, he warned: "If people are expecting they can come up with an exam script full of text and pass, then they're dreaming. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1 &ObjectID=10410066

Re:What's wrong with his post?

[jawtheshark]

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.

Re:The nature of language

[joto]

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

Re:What's wrong with his post?

[thrillseeker]

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

What?

Re:What's wrong with his post?

[kayditty]

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.

It's all a misunderstanding...

[pidge-nz]

Short Answer: Move along, nothing to see here, it's an unsubstantiated rumour.

Long Answer:

From a New Zealand Herald article, somewhat more authorative on what's going on in New Zealand than CNN.

Text language risky move in NCEA examinations

Friday November 10, 2006
By Claire Trevett

Students are being warned not to use cellphone texting abbreviations in NCEA exams after reports suggested the shorthand was to be allowed.

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority is dashing media reports that students could use text abbreviations in exams without penalty if their answers otherwise showed the required understanding.

...

Read the article for more. And get it while it's hot, as NZ Herald only allows access to non-subscribers for a week.