A school in the Midlands, at Hales Owen, has banned children from using dialect words, and speaking or writing using their own dialect; the dialect in question is the very old Black Country dialect, and some scholars believe that Shakespeare may have spoken in a similar way. As a teacher I can understand how it is important to teach young people the standard form of English, but surely we should rejoice in the wonderful variety of different accents and dialects we have in the country.
Here are some of the things the children at this school were banned from saying:
- “They was” instead of “they were.”
- “I cor do that” instead of “I can’t do that.”
- “Ya” instead of “you.”
- “Gonna” instead of “going to.”
- “Woz” instead of “was.”
- “I day” instead of “I didn’t.”
- “I ain’t” instead of “I haven’t.”
- “Somefink” instead of “something.”
- “It wor me” instead of “it wasn’t me.”
- “Ay?” instead of “pardon?”
Lois Elsden 
That is a shame, this is how native dialects die out and the world is no better for it. I hope the school reconsiders it’s decision.
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There has been such an outcry in the papers that I really do hope they see sense!
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Last I checked, “It wor me” was the oppersit of “it wasn’t me.”
“It twern’t” or “it wern’t” was the acciented “It wasn’t”
Damn telegraph being off the ball again!
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Quite a few on the list are not specific to the Black Country either!
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