Because they cant see you, they can only judge you by the words and the quality of the spelling etc in front of them.

An employment agency in this country will quite often test spelling. It is also part of the teachers training course (but here special provision can be arranged).

I agree that certain skills are required even if a word processor is in operation.

Not sure I entirely agree with you on the homonyms issue. In the jobs I have done which involved writing things that would go out to a client, they were checked first (this was not a special provision, it was standard).

A friend of mine who worked in PR (Public Relations) also had her writing proof read. Where this is the case I realy can’t see the need to fuss over the rare occurrence of homonyms.

Obviously if the writing is expressive, as it would be in PR that is a skill all itself.

Richard

I would totally agree that a “general spelling test” as a job entry filter for all jobs (whether or not they have anything to do with spelling or writing) is not only bad, but discriminatory. I’m pretty sure this was your initial intention.

I’ve not heard of that kind of job entry filter in this country (that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, it might) so reacted to something different.

So, the idea that looking at spelling ability in isolation is an indication of general intelligence is absurd and we need to work hard to change that filter and perception.

But, as you’ve said (and I’ve said) if the job requires writing even using a computer, there is a heavier load placed on a person’s ability to use language well.

A spelling checker will not pick up homonyms or help a writer think through a difficult syntax problem so experience with language is important, even with tools.

I’m in no way saying that just testing spelling can give anyone an idea of experience with language but I do think that asking a person to do the kinds of writing that they would do on the job as a rite of entry is a good thing, and if there are spelling errors (word use errors) with the use of a spelling checker then there might not be a good job fit.

How’s that, are we more aligned now?

Most office type jobs these days will use a computer. I agree that if you can’t get the correct spelling even with a spellchecker then this represents a real communication problem.

As far as jobs that involve writing but don’t use a word processor. Yes there may be times when it would be inappropriate to hire a poor speller.

Very often however the part of the job where this writing is involved may be quite small, and the writing might take place in a very limited field.

For example I know a dyslexic who is also a physiotherapist. This job does entail some writing without a word processor. However she knows how to spell all the relevant technical words, so this represents no real difficulty.

Teaching is another example of this sort of job. Again the vocabulary may be quite narrow, and as lessons are prepared in advance there is usually an opportunity to check unsure spellings beforehand.

I would also say it depends on the importance and purpose of what is being written. My spelling difficulties don’t represent a communication difficulty. I mean this in the sense that someone else looking at what I have written will always be able to tell what it says. There are many people whose handwriting presents more of an obstacle. So unless the spelling is on show for public scrutiny or in a situation where spelling is the central focus what I write should be sufficient.

One instance where my spelling did cause a problem for me was when working in a kitchen. I was asked to write the menu out on the boards, and made some errors. I don’t think this means I shouldn’t have been given the job in the first place. There are all sorts of ways this problem could have been overcome, with an understanding employer, or indeed even (as was most certainly my case) without.

Richard

1. all other things about the applicants are equal.

2. the person would have no problems with the spelling test if using a computer with a spelling checker.

If the job involves writing and the person will not be given a computer or some other support tool, how can they do it?

So do you agree, that rejecting someone for a job, based only on a spelling test is a form of discrimination?

Richard

All respect to you for that.

I suggest we all go out and make a fuss about what we like and don’t like about the way learning disabilities are dealt with in society.

Yeah absolutely! It is combined opinion that holds the most sway.

Richard

I think it’s important to talk about how society should be and do things to bring it closer to that ideal at the same time.

One thing I do is run this web site.

Another thing I do is speak to about 10,000 people a year on what it means to have a learning disability in today’s world.

I also train teachers to be better teachers of people with learning disabilities using a variety of tools and technologies.

I work in prisons, factories, K12 schools, universities, and more.

I’ve been doing this kind of work for over 20 years.

So, I’m proactive and I suggest we all go out and make a fuss about what we like and don’t like about the way learning disabilities are dealt with in society.

As you say society is us, this does not in anyway take away from what I am saying. In fact it serves to clarify.

I believe, that an argument about what society should do has to be based upon what is good for society. The greater good, if you like.

In my life, I live in the society that exists now, not the one I think should exist or even the one that may exist in the future. When living your life you accept that, and work with that, because these are the facts of life.

So the question becomes; what is the point of talking about how society should be?

If enough people believe in something in the end something will be done about it.

The way forward is to have strong beliefs about how things should be, and to be willing to argue for those beliefs, just as I am doing here.

That is all most of us can reasonably expect to do.

Richard