Concern at level of text spelling in school

Teachers have been urged to lead a charge against text shorthand - the language of mobile phone messaging - amid fears that it is contributing to declining standards of spelling and grammar in schools.

Mr Michael O'Regan, president of the National Parents Council Post-Primary, described as "frightening" the increased use of text spelling by young people.

"It's coming into their everyday writing and that's not good for education."

The trend "hit home" last week, he said, when he received an e-mail from a son in Australia "where everything was done in text abbreviations. There were no words spelt fully."

His comments come amid heightened concern in Britain this week when it was revealed that a 13-year-old girl handed in an essay written in text shorthand. She explained that she found it "easier than standard English".

Calls have been made in Britain for the practice to be discouraged in schools and these are echoed by Mr O'Regan.

"It has to come from the teachers," he said. "Grammar and spelling are very important because if you get them wrong you'll get everything wrong. It is a growing problem and I think it will have implications for students sitting Junior and Leaving Cert exams."

The most recent report of the Department of Education's chief examiner found Ordinary Level students doing a 2001 Leaving Cert English exam essay were "in general . . . marred by poor language-management skills. Candidates should be aware of the importance of paragraphing, syntax, spelling and punctuation in their writing."

The issue also attracted some debate during the Nice Treaty campaign when Ógra Sinn Féin defended the replacement of "You're" with "Your" on a referendum poster by saying it was in line with text-messaging convention to spell phonetically.

Dr Brenna Clarke, head of the English department at St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, said she "wouldn't jump to any conclusions" on whether there was a link between text messaging and falling standards of English.

"I wouldn't be too alarmist about it. One has to remember, English is constantly evolving and being added to."