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Grammar in our schools
Sue Wighton asks to be allowed "one last rallying call for the return of sound grammatical knowledge to our schools" ("Don't split your infinitives here", 3 March).
She should not fret. The process is under way.
The language strand of the English component of the Australian Curriculum contains commendable detail on a sensible approach to the grammar of English. It is just to be hoped that the current review of the curriculum does not meddle with this strength before it has been fully understood and properly implemented.
In addition to the necessary but insufficient business of avoiding grammatical errors, the curriculum sensibly focuses on how different choices of grammatical structures construct meaning in different ways.
There is, however, no place for cluttering up kids' (children’s) heads with three traditional so-called "rules" which are, frankly, nonsense.
I refer to the time-honoured prohibitions against splitting infinitives, beginning sentences with conjunctions, or ending them with prepositions.
As Wighton implies, judiciously managed, all three are fine.
Garry Collins, president, English Teachers Association of Queensland
 "Garry Collins, ETAQ President")
Author: Garry Collins, ETAQ President
| Tags: Curriculum matters |
An Afternoon with Lindsay WilliamsAn Afternoon with Lindsay Williams and the Analytical Essay will be held at Centenary Heights State High School, Performing Arts Complex on Wednesday 16th October 2019 from 3:15 to 5:45 pm. A Certificate of Participation for 2 hours CPD will be issued to participants. Afternoon tea will be served from 3:15 to 3:45. For furt... |
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Thou wouldst be greatCharlie Thomson, Amy Proud and Rosie Maguire present their findings from the Bell Shakespeare Regional Teacher Mentorship on Saturday 19 October, 2019 from 9:00 till 11:30. For all the details, download the flyer |
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Early Career ConferenceThe Early Career Conference will be held at the University of Southern Queensland, Springfield Campus. The program is now available here and will be mailed to members later this week. Registrations are now open and will close on Friday 18th October, 2019. You may register online or by completing the registration form and mailing it ... |
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An Afternoon of ModerationThe Darling Downs Branch will present an afternoon of moderation on Wednesday 30 October from 3:30 - 5:30. This will allow members and teachers to participate in an afternoon of moderation. These professional conversations will be conducted in a collegial manner, and allow teachers to read responses to FIA4 written by a range of stu... |
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Grammar Day 2019ETAQ will be condudcting another of the very successful grammar days on Saturday 9th November at Iona College, Wynnum. Download the flyer for further information. Registrations will open on Monday 30 September and close on Monday 28 October 2019. ... |
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This is the first time I have been to an ETAQ conference and it was really sensational to get so much at all of the sessions.
ETAQ conferences always have sessions that make me excited to be a teacher.
I know that ETAQ conferences in the past have never disappointed - valuable, relevant, practical, inspiring so I came again.
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