Pupils are not allowed to use the phrase "innit" or other examples of "playground patois" when talking to teachers. Formal language must be used at all times in communications with adults and pupils have been told that street slang should be "left at the school gates".

 

The measure, along with a strict uniform policy, is part of a tough stance on discipline at Manchester Academy, in the city's deprived Moss Side area, has restored order.

 

Since the school became an academy in 2003, exam results have improved from about 10 per cent of pupils achieving five good GCSEs to 33 per cent and the proportion who leave without a job or college course to go to is down from 26 to 6 per cent.

"Language is really important and we have to make sure pupils realise that," said Kathy August, the head teacher.

 

"You can get five A* to Cs in your exams but if you go to an interview and you can't shake hands, look someone in the eye and speak in the appropriate register, you are not going to get the job or place at university. It is hugely important. We have high expectations. It makes me angry when I see… pamphlets on drug education or anti-gang material. They are appalling. The way they are written suggests that if you are black and from a particular postcode you will only understand the message if it is presented in a certain informal way, in a "street" form. It enforces the stereotype and ends up glamorising what it is supposed to be preventing.

 

"There are 64 languages spoken at the school and 80 per cent of pupils are from ethnic minority backgrounds," she added.

 

"We realised very early on that children were coming into the community and picking up the lingo that young people use and that the intonation and patterns of speech of formal language were lacking."

 

She said that the message had been drummed into pupils that street slang was "just not academy".

 

Children are pulled up when using colloquialisms and told directly that it is unacceptable. "You have to be consistent. We make it clear in our tone of voice and with short imperatives that we are not happy. So it's not 'excuse me, do you mind not doing that, it's not very nice'. We say 'Stop. We don't do that. Thank you.'"

 

Language that is 'just not academy'

 

Ballin': Doing well

Blood: Friend

Buggin': To act in a crazy or strange way

Cuss: Defame

Hulk out: To lose one's temper

Innit? Isn't it? Is it? You know? Oh, really?

Kickback: A get-together

Laters: Goodbye

Na: No

Phat: Stylish, desirable

Rank: Disgusting, horrible

Rep: Reputation

Slammin': Pleasing to the eye

Safe: That's all right

Trill: Someone who is considered to be well-respected

Wack: Weak, boring

What you chattin' about?: Shut up, you are talking rubbish

Word: I understand, really

 

Source: Sunday Telegraph

 

I believe slang should be left outside the school gates, as it is supposed to be a place of learning. I am also against the culture of "TEXT" speak infiltrating everyday life. If we are not careful, English will be changed forever, and not for the better.

I believe slang should be left outside the school gates, as it is supposed to be a place of learning. I am also against the culture of "TEXT" speak infiltrating everyday life. If we are not careful, English will be changed forever, and not for the better.

 

'Slang' will be used in schools/colleges even if teachers don't like it, much like swearing. It's just something that teachers/adults will have to live with, not that it's not that big of a deal anyway... And if you say that "slang should be left outside the school" then what does that change really? People will still use it in everyday life so it doesn't change anything. It's a mountain being made out of a molehill if you ask me...

Na beef init bruv. :lol:

 

You can't really stop people talking like that ^, but banning it in front of teachers/inside classes seems a fair idea. Although I don't think anyone would ever dream writing something like that in an English exam. :lol:

'Slang' will be used in schools/colleges even if teachers don't like it, much like swearing. It's just something that teachers/adults will have to live with, not that it's not that big of a deal anyway... And if you say that "slang should be left outside the school" then what does that change really? People will still use it in everyday life so it doesn't change anything. It's a mountain being made out of a molehill if you ask me...

 

That may be, but try using in an interview for a job, andyou won't get far.

I do think that text speak is finding itself into written work at school which can be a problem, and Brian's right, 'slang' wouldn't go down well during a job interview.

some might say that its the english language evolving... but i wouldnt agree, as evolution is an increase .. a step up. slang originates from the gutter so is dumbing down our language.

 

mind you, im a hypocrit here because my language is bloody awful! :lol: im just too lazy. but i love to here eloquent speech, we should be striving towards upgrading our language.

'Slang' will be used in schools/colleges even if teachers don't like it, much like swearing. It's just something that teachers/adults will have to live with, not that it's not that big of a deal anyway... And if you say that "slang should be left outside the school" then what does that change really? People will still use it in everyday life so it doesn't change anything. It's a mountain being made out of a molehill if you ask me...

 

As far as I'm concerned, the results speak for themselves Jonny.... I absolutely applaud this initiative and reckon that all schools should do the same... I think it's about time to excise Chavdom from our culture altogether.... Rob's absolutely correct, this "Playground Patois" is NOT an evolution of our language, I would say that it's our language and our standards DE-Evolving, and is one of the many reasons for the rise of ignorance and Chav.... "You wont get a good job by talking like a bloody Navvie" as my Mum used to say.. I was born and raised Working Class, but, my parents had a thing called standards, as ALL genuine working class people from a certain generation actually do.... And having standards doesn't make you a "snob" or a "toff".....

 

Schools need to raise the standards of their kids, NOT bring themselves down to the "street" level.....

 

Of course it would bloody help if the "popular press" out there would write their stories in proper English with the CORRECT GRAMMAR as well..... :rolleyes:

 

Ballin': Doing well

Blood: Friend

Buggin': To act in a crazy or strange way

Cuss: Defame

Hulk out: To lose one's temper

Innit? Isn't it? Is it? You know? Oh, really?

Kickback: A get-together

Laters: Goodbye

Na: No

Phat: Stylish, desirable

Rank: Disgusting, horrible

Rep: Reputation

Slammin': Pleasing to the eye

Safe: That's all right

Trill: Someone who is considered to be well-respected

Wack: Weak, boring

What you chattin' about?: Shut up, you are talking rubbish

Word: I understand, really

 

 

I don't know any of the above words. I'm officially an Old Fogey :(

Lol! How out of touch are they? :lol: Do they really think adults would use words like 'innit' in a job interview? :lol: I like this idea but some of the other things they're suggesting are very patronising, how are they gonna enforce this exactly? Monitor their language in school grounds and give them electric shocks when they use a word that is not appropriate? Also it's not like other generations haven't had their own slang words :blink:

Lol! How out of touch are they? :lol: Do they really think adults would use words like 'innit' in a job interview?

 

Er, 'Wicky, they actually DO... I know people who work in employment agencies, and who have conducted interviews as part of HR, and many of the types of people they see would absolutely confirm this... In fact, people say to me that for the most part, the most polite and well spoken people they would tend to speak to are actually immigrants... :lol: Yes, we had slang when I was at school, but like I said in my post, we had a bit of common sense and standards for the most part... Chavs/Neds have neither because they haven't been brought up with any values at all...

Sounds rather silly to me. Nothing will really be achieved since they will still be used but if im honest i gavent actually heard half the stuff listed used once.

i gavent actually heard half the stuff listed used once.

 

Depends on where you live though dunnit....?

 

Rank: Disgusting, horrible

 

Since when has rank been a slang word? I thought it was just a normal word that everyone used. :blush:

Rank: Disgusting, horrible

 

Since when has rank been a slang word? I thought it was just a normal word that everyone used. :blush:

 

erm... its always been slang when used in that context, but i think its an 'old' slang word as oposed to a more recent addition like the rest of the list.