Heaven forbid you should use the wrong terminology

Actually something along this lines did happen and I just thought about it. When I was with my ex, he explained to me that where he lived there was a year-round school or a normal year. The normal year was like what we have now, 9 months in, 3 months (summer) out. The Year round program is all year 3 months in and 3 WEEKS out. I was excited that they could go all year round, meaning that they could all be 3 year graduates. I called to schedule an appointment to see the school and talk about the gifted children's program and see how that fit in with the year round curriculum. Yeah right, this lady told me that they don't go "year round". They only go 3 months in and 3 weeks out and three months in and two weeks out and then back to 3 months in and 3 weeks out! She must have been crabby, or doesn't like kids. I don't know but I told her that I was told that it wasn't like a normal school year. She yelled obscenities out at me and then explained that this was an "extended time plan" and that I needed to be better educated on what blah, blah, blah.....Then she handed me a handbook---THAT EXPLAINED THE MANY OPTIONS OF SCHOOL FOR THE KIDS--WHICH READ, "We have 2 selections in (particular school) to choose from. We have the modern program where classes begin in August and end in June (dates and times vary), and we also have the YEAR-WE-GO-ROUND program where students attend a yearly curriculum. This program allows sufficient time to gather and learn......blah, blah, blah, (basically, they go year round). I marched right back in there and almost stood on her desk and hit her in the nose with the book. Just to point out that it was year round schooling. Do you know what she said......? The Program is not called Year round schooling, it is called The Year-we-go-round program...What the heck is the difference? Anyhow, hope you got a giggle out of that. I'm still laughing at the look on her face when this "midget" of a person almost leaped out of no where just to prove her wrong. Happy Mylotting!

What??? Of course she had to know what you meant!!! Summer school, extended school year, whatever? And what about "no money"? Summer school, and extended school sure sound like the same thing to me!!! Yes, that's happened to me, but right now, I can't come up with an example. I just had to comment on that silly "misunderstanding"! Take care, and I hope Cary does well in all his schoolwork...summer, or regular!

omg... that is funny because we actually had the exact same problem. We said summer school, but they said extended school year. I'm like, well... isn't that the same thing? Oops.. my bad...

i think sometimes they should hand out notification of no longer PC terms. i had to call for animal control about a possibly rabid raccoon. i shocked to learn i needed to call the "invasive environmental wildlife interaction controlling manager" instead. wow.i wonder if a title like that got him more money instead of "animal control".

I have trouble keeping up with "education lingo" myself. And even when I do FINALLY learn the terminology they go and change the names on us! Then I get corrected for using the "old" term. We don't have "English" class any more. It's "Language Arts". There used to be an "EESAC" committee that I was on a few years ago. I think they changed the name of that two. Which, somehow I just found out today I was "signed up" for the committe this year. (another story for another day). So, to answer your question. Yes, I do use the wrong terminology. I probably have been given wrong information because of it, at some point.

Of course it's important to use the right terminology. Heck, nations have done wars over such little misunderstandings. And after all, it's about good communication. When I talk to a person I automatically presume that he or she is analyzing his or her thoughts before saying them. If I suspect an error, I'll probably ask him again just to make sure he or she didn't make a mistake, but most of the time I'll take it for granted. Like in your case, I would've never guessed you meant something else so the answer would've been the same.

Perhaps if you had received the relevant paperwork in a timely fashion you would have been aware of the terminology. Don't worry - that's passing the buck with a backhand if I can be forgiven for mixing my metaphors...lol.

Well this was a case of my calling or saying something with the wrong name...didn't necessarily get a wrong answer though...just a chuckle and laugh from the person I was talking to. This goes to show you how computers have gotten in my brains and their "jargon"...One time I was talking about my mother and how in 1990, after some twenty years of work she was "downloaded" from her job....uh, meant downsized.... The woman I was talking to at first didn't know what I meant and then "got" it and that's when she laughed at me.

Can't think of an instance where different terminology to describe same thing was a problem, but I think Cary's teacher knew exactly what you were talking about. If she didn't, then I don't think she should be in a position to teach others, and I'd certainly check on that!

Forgive her , she was probably at the end of a stressful day and didn't think about what she was writing. You did say that she has been so good with your son.

Dawn- I'm surprised she didn't know that Extended School Year (ESY) in special education was summer school, and schools can't cancel it due to money because they are financed for those classes out of specially ear-marked money. They can't refused ESY to a special education student, basically. I'm glad you straightened it out though. Don't feel bad though for the "terminology", even though cary's teacher is a sweetie, seems like she just wasn't on the ball that day lol. Have a great week. Namaste-Anora

that is awful dawn, its exhausting for the kid and the parents. mind you i'm a good bit above average iq and say silly things all the time.

Happens to me all the time. It's why I started the Word Club over on Yuwie. I see that a lot of misunderstanding (real, imagined, on purpose, accidently) happens due to words chosen or left out. Just last night on here...I was misunderstood by a responder on my Media Bias discussion. I went immediately to try and explain myself, on her discussion about my discussion....lol. Any way....language is powerful...but only so much as the mind of the talkers and listeners allow. :) Did I just confuse everyone? LOL