Must do better

Published on Thursday 2 July 2009 20:51

Anne Ross's letter (2 July) is strong on adjectives but short on evidence.

Spelling surveys of the UK in 2008 and the US in 2009 show that the ability to spell is equally poor in both. Using the same ten common words, the results came out the same.

Since the two populations are different, the governments and their educational policies are different, as are the children, the parents, the teachers and the schools. The only connecting factor is the spelling system. The level of functional illiteracy is the same.

Hence Ms Ross's view that the problem is the unsound educational policies is, to use her own word, nonsense. Equally, the latest remedy will be a further waste of money.

JACK BOVILL

Chair, the Spelling Society

Kramer Mews

London SW5