Guardians of the Grammar Gang (GGG)

The GGGs are not wrong, but they are not right. The judgements they make seems so justified. After all, years have been spent preparing them for their craft of writing and editing. When we judge a kid for one or two misspelled words something is wrong. Even if there is a dozen or one hundred errors. we label it as a major crime? A misplace phrase or the wrong tense may seem grave and comparable to a capital offense. In many languages a verb has no tense or gender.

When a student whose English is not her or his primary language makes a booboo, why do we want to lynch the person on the spot? In high school I could not read very well. Letters were backward or distorted. Common words appeared as if they were from an uncommon world. Bullies never hit me, but laughed at me, and called me an idiot. It hurt, none the less.

One wonderful teacher taught me to place my fingers under each word and I would see it correctly. For me it was a miracle. Thanks to grammar and spell checks in word processors today, my writing life is better. I still make errors. I consider it is wonderful when a kid with deficiencies in English languages can get a million reads. As a retired teacher, I am grappling with students who have committed suicide over what seems small issues but gigantic to them.

Be kind and celebrate their recognition. I read about ten books a week. Half of the works are from kids who have syntax snags. However, their themes and plots are magnificent. If we blind ourselves the prominence they offer, we miss blessings. If we complain - we overlook the sunsets, rainbows and the beauty of life's excitement. It is OK to criticize with love. They write with heart. Wattpad gives them the opportunity to make mistakes as they grow. Perfection is not a priority. Loosen up and embrace the future, which is now.

Pride controlled me. I taught kids to be precise as future engineers and architects. I was a tough teacher, but now, I grasp it is more important to be considerate. When I reside in a grave will I have given every potential writer a chance to grow.

As the Beatles sang, "Let it Be,"

There is a beauty of those that dream and hope. There is a bright future for these young writers. This work is the reflections of an old man excited about the energy and depth of a new generation. bless them and their writing.