A very motivated foreign student, with a natural aptitude for learning languages, can learn English, on average, in six months if studying for twenty-one hours a week!(1) Imagine how long and difficult this process is for our young children of Britain. We have all been there and some picked it up better than others. Others still struggle. John Wells believes that children are being held back due to irregular spelling and learning how to use the apostrophe. John Wells was quoted in The Times (September 8th, 2008): "It seems to be a great pity that English-speaking countries are holding back children in this way. In Finnish, once you have learned the letters, you know how to spell, so it would be ludicrous to hold spelling tests. In countries like Italy and Spain it’s similar. But with English it’s not phonetic, and there are just so many irregularities."(2) It does logically make sense for British spelling to be changed to a phonetic system for the sake of the young.
(1) http://www.englishschool.org.uk/
(2) http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article4698949.ece

Imagine how much money is being spent on extra learning for students struggling with reading and writing. If they did not struggle, such expense would be unnecessary. It would also create a knock-on effect, with students then doing badly in other subjects, such as history, science and geography etc. Many business companies throw CV’s away because the spelling content is poor – thus losing individuals who could be an asset to their company. At present 20% of adults in Britain cannot read and write easily – a much larger number than in countries like Sweden that have easier spelling systems(1). In turn, this then leads to adults also having difficult grasping the English language and holding our economy back. At present 20% of adults in Britain cannot read and write easily – a much larger number than in countries like Sweden that have easier spelling systems.
(1) http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topicID=800

Despite the opinions of some, all it would need was some Government strength of mind to change the current English language to follow the phonetic system. This need only be proved by history: in the last forty years, Britain changed its currency from the traditional pounds, shillings and pence, to the modern system of one hundred pennies to the pound. The old imperial system of measurements was changed to the simpler modern metric system. If we all put our minds too it, it would not be so difficult to change to the new phonetic language.

Those students who have had to stay behind after English lessons for help with their literacy are often branded unfair, cruel names, such as ‘thick’ and ‘stupid’. Student support teachers often sit with those struggling to keep up and understand during lessons. A prime example would be my father: a very intelligent, capable man who never could quite grasp how to spell and can now often be found asking for my sister or myself to spell words for him, so as to avoid embarrassment. Perhaps by using phonetics, people like him could be helped. Those suffering from dyslexia find spelling so difficult, maybe it is our job to step in and make it easier.

Hi. Wot r u up 2? Out 2nite? Gr8 c u l8r.
Teenagers of Britain are already masters of the phonetic language: they have infiltrated text messages, online chat and public profiling. Perhaps it is just lazy, but it is the way Britain is moving and maybe even the way forward.