Concerns are mounting over the quality of learning materials used in schools following a strong critique by Montell Benson, a proofreader, editor and teacher, who has publicly condemned a widely circulated comprehension passage for both its grammatical flaws and troubling content.
The passage, titled “The old man and the dog,” has drawn criticism not only for what Benson describes as “numerous grammatical errors,” but also for promoting what he considers inappropriate and harmful behaviour for young learners.
According to Benson, the title itself fails a basic rule of capitalization. “It should read ‘The Old Man and the Dog,’ since content words in titles are capitalised,” he noted.
Beyond the title, Benson pointed out several structural and grammatical issues. He highlighted the incorrect separation of “fireplace” as “fire place,” and criticised the sentence, “…But the dog slept off and a thief came and steal the meat,” explaining that it should read “…but the dog slept off and a thief came and stole the meat.” He also questioned the appropriateness of beginning a sentence with a conjunction at that level of learning.
In another instance, Benson drew attention to the sentence, “This made the old man sad and then think…” describing it as grammatically flawed. He explained that the verb “made” requires a bare infinitive, suggesting the correct version should be “This made the old man sad and think…” or, if sequence is intended, “This made the old man sad, and he then began to think…”
He further criticised awkward and incorrect expressions such as “where the dog was asleep again and put it inside the nose,” noting that “asleep” is an adjective, not a verb, and that “nostril” would be more appropriate than “nose.” He suggested a clearer construction: “…where the dog was sleeping and put it in its nostril.”
The final sentence, “This made the dog mad and ran away from home,” was also flagged. Benson argued that it breaks grammatical agreement and should read, “This made the dog mad and run away from home.”
However, beyond grammar, Benson expressed deeper concern about the message conveyed in the passage. The story depicts an old man punishing his dog by applying a hot iron to its nose after it fails to guard meat. Benson argues that such content risks teaching children that violence is an acceptable response to mistakes.
“This book should not have been approved for classroom use in the first place,” he stated, questioning the standards and processes involved in vetting educational materials. “One keeps wondering who approves poorly written or substandard books such as this for use in schools.”
Adding to the controversy, there are reports that the author or publisher has threatened legal action against a woman who initially raised concerns about the passage. Benson dismissed such reactions, insisting that legitimate criticism of educational content should not be silenced.
The development has sparked broader conversations among educators and stakeholders about the need for stricter quality control in school textbooks. Experts argue that learning materials must not only be grammatically sound but also promote positive values and age-appropriate lessons.
As debates continue, Benson’s critique has amplified calls for education authorities to review approval processes and ensure that only well-written and pedagogically appropriate texts find their way into classrooms.
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