Sunday, December 30, 2007

The Magazine's interview with D.C. schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee [First Person Singular, Dec. 23] left me feeling a bit discouraged. Ms. Rhee used the phrases "my parents were like, "they were like" and "she was like" no fewer than four times, presumably as substitutes for more precise and grammatically correct phrases such as "they said" or "they reacted."

While the use of "were (was) like" as a combination verb/adjective has become distressingly commonplace in conversations, particularly among the younger generation, one would expect that the person in charge of a public school system would speak a bit better. But then again, perhaps not; maybe this is just another instance of what President Bush once rather memorably said: "Is our children learning?" Ms. Rhee, please set a better example for students in the District.

BILL TRACY

Springfield