Scrapping "'i' before 'e' except after 'c'.

I actually heard this on the radio and decided to drum up a newslink for it. Apparently a number of primary schools in the UK are scrapping the clever memory trick because, "there are too few words which follow the rule and recommends using more modern methods to teach spelling to schoolchildren." What do you all think about this? (:

While I do agree there are a fair number of exceptions to the rule, it still seems to be somewhat useful. It is one of the few things I remember from my grammar school days anyway. Grammar was always a relatively difficult thing to teach. I remember in elementary school the teacher would declare that the class was moving to English lessons, start universal class groaning, and so on.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/8110573.stm

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Permalink Reply by Johannes S. on June 27, 2009 at 8:47am: I before Am, except before "Bovvered?"
(Those who didn't get the reference, this is from the Catherine Tate Show.)

Well, on topic, this was a great thing to teach grammar with. Scrapping it is definitely a bad idea.
Most words with I and E in them and next to each other follow that rule nicely.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jon Sheline on June 27, 2009 at 9:39am: This is interesting. It's a mnemonic device that's helped millions (or billions?) of students take a definitive step towards the more complex rules of spelling (none of which have ever been absolute) and learning the exceptions.
It seems there are a lot of similar changes these days, where some governing body says, "Oh, we have to change the way children _________ (insert verb), because the way it's been done is too confusing, or hard, or dangerous, etc...
I think we should file this under, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
On the other hand, if someone can come up with something more effective, please, have at it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Garrett W. on June 28, 2009 at 12:18pm: just another way the public education systems are slowly being chipped away at and the public dumbed down.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by lizanne on October 5, 2009 at 8:24pm: It has been about 25 years since I first heard Charlie Brown and Linus singing “I Before E Except After C”, but the tune still pops into my head every time I spell ‘receipt’.

Just another memory from my childhood going by the wayside…

Here’s a link to the song for those interested:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_wOXkZ6OSw; ▶ Reply to This