Why phonetic spelling isn't effective

Rod Pitcher

By Rod Pitcher
Community contribution / August 8, 2014

Many people have proposed that words be spelt phonetically, that is, how they sound. Mostly phonetic spelling is suggested because, it is claimed, it would be easier to read and would take away some of the odd spellings of English words. This, it is again claimed, would make it easier for children to learn to spell.

However, it seems to me, that those people who want phonetic spelling have not thought through all the problems that ...

General Hand - Grounds & Maintenance

Oran Park Anglican College Oran Park NSW

Oran Park Anglican College seeks a General Hand - Grounds & Maintenance for a permanent part-time (0.8 FTE/4 days per week) role commencing January 2027. Responsibilit...

Non Teaching Positions/Roles / Nov 06, 2026

Assistant Head of Girls Boarding - Interim

Canberra Grammar School Red Hill ACT

The Assistant Head of Girls Boarding will be caring, experienced and ambitious to make a difference.

School Management / Nov 06, 2026

Nursery Supply Staff

Veritas Cambridge

Teaching - Early childhood / Nov 06, 2026

School news / The med students mentoring and coaching regional and disadvantaged students

A girl growing up in rural Australia wants to become a doctor, but her school doesn’t offer chemistry and her part-time job at a pharmacy is her only exposure to the medical system.

School news / Hillcrest tragedy: jumping castle operator to face questions at inquest

The operator of an inflatable jumping castle that became airborne, killing six primary school students, will give evidence at an inquest into the tragedy.

School news / ‘Gone too far’: AI ‘detox’, anti-Semitism lessons in national education overhaul

Restricted access to AI, compulsory civics lessons and anti-Semitism education will form the basis of a nationwide curriculum overhaul.

School news / Teenage girl allegedly tried to access guns for school attack

A 15-year-old girl has wept in court as she faced terrorism-related charges after allegedly trying to break into her family’s gun safe as she plotted a mass casualty attack on a school.

School news / Students to go old school with return to NAPLAN pen-and-paper testing

Year 5 students will take standardised national tests with pen and paper again from 2028. The Federal Government said in response to declining academic results it will make the change to NAPLAN testing after state education ministers met on Monday...

Opinion / Smart glasses have ‘no place’ in Victorian schools. What does that say about disability inclusion?

Language matters in education. Not simply the language written into policies, but the words chosen by those responsible for leading our education system. Words communicate expectations, reinforce assumptions and influence how school communities un...

School news / We have put a generation of school students ‘in a pickle’ with their writing and typing skills

In recent days there has been widespread discussion and media coverage of the NSW Government asking national education ministers to scrap computer-based NAPLAN writing tests for Year 5, 7 and 9 students from 2028. The ministers agreed yesterday to...

School news / Catholic school staff pay decision delayed after rejection of employer-proposed EA

Staff in Queensland Catholic schools have rejected a proposed enterprise agreement in a 2-to-1 vote after employers failed to address key bargaining claims.

School news / Why a First Nations teacher workforce is essential to the future of education in Australia

Having worked across the education sector for over 15 years and as someone deeply committed to improving outcomes for First Nations students, I have seen firsthand the powerful contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers make ...

School news / Catholic staff offered govt pay rises but denied improved workload refinements

Catholic school staff in Victoria are being offered salary increases broadly matching government schools, but without equivalent workload improvements and with cuts to existing conditions, according to the Independent Education Union.

Comments