Last year I wrote about New Zealand’s decision to allow text message speak on NCEA exams. Reaction wasn’t favorable. Although the U.S. (thankfully) hasn’t followed suit on tests like the SAT, English teachers in particular have noticed students using abbreviations such as “b4″ and others on term papers.
But junior high and high school teachers nationwide say they see a troubling trend: The words have become so commonplace in children’s social lives that the techno spellings are finding their way into essays and other writing assignments.
“The IM-speak is so prevalent now,” said Austin, a language arts teacher at Stonewall Jackson Middle School in Orlando. “I’m always having to instruct my students against using it.”
I’m not surprised. I have been expecting this for a while. Maybe what’s really needed is a translator built into Microsoft Word … like the one in my PDA’s email program that automatically changes “mtg” into “meeting” and “b4″ into “before.” 
