Keep up the good work PUYD!

And, WOW.

I agree with many of these folks (and our buddy PUYD) in the idea that this is largely a poverty issue. More than that however, it really is the parents. Why can’t people understand that when you have a child, that it is probably the most important thing that will happen to any of us. More important than having a dog, or a demanding career, or a wife or husband. More important, probably, than most people with kids even understand early on in their parenthood. With this, comes the INSANELY HUGE responsibility of making sure that the child has all of the opportunities that are available to them in order to succeed, and hopefully be more successful than their parents. And the fact of the matter is, regardless of where this child is from, he has the OPPORTUNITY to do well in school. And without his parents help (at least some help for godsake), he doesn’t stand much of a chance.

Now, the issue with a lot of your comments is, largely, “it’s this child’s culture” to speak like this. While that may be the case, the fact of the matter is, society does it’s business in correctly formatted language and grammar, and largely judges success by how well a person can communicate intelligently. And the problem is, this ability to communicate starts in grade school. Certainly the teacher of this child’s class didn’t sit at the front of the room lecturing on how this type of language is acceptable. Maybe he’s not the best teacher (I know I had some bad ones in middle/high school), but he’s not teaching the spelling of turkey as “trucky.”

This, unfortunately is all the teacher can do: show them the correct way. After that, it really is the responsibility of the parents to step in and say, “OK junior. You know what the teacher was saying? Well that really is the way you need to speak and write.”

I’m sorry, but fill out a job application in a language that even approaches some of the butchery in this 6th grade essay, and get in line for food stamps.

Oh and Marieke, lighten up. First of all it isn’t illegal. No one was singled out here. We don’t know whether this kid was female, male, black, white, asian, pacific islander, hispanic, martian, whatever…you think this kid is in his mom and dad’s house surfing wordpress blogs? Chances are, probably not.

The point of this whole thing is what you said exactly, people (parents of some children) just don’t care in this country anymore.

I live and work in real estate in Metro Philly. So, I am pretty familiar with the demographics throughout the city.

Sharswood Elementary is located in a predominantly white neighborhood of South Philly. In the last few years, this particular area has experienced revitalization and increasing property values.

To assume the author of this essay is a poor, black kid is stereotypically presumptuous and racist.

I believe this essay was posted by the teacher of this child. However, I don’t think it was out of amusement but as a testimony of our failing education system and lack of parental involvement in this “GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD” of ours.

Whomever posted it for whatever reason, I am greatful as it has surely caught my attention as well as yours!

That, and “trucky niggets” just totally tickles my funny bone

yeah, you’re right. “trucky niggets” tag has been added.

I bet that “trucky niggets” becomes a classic at my house….