There is no "incorrect" usage of the subjunctive to "promote". It's the reality that the subjunctive is often discarded entirely and this is accepted and understood by most English speakers. Very few people think "that's wrong" when they hear "if I was" instead of "if I were", and even fewer would bother to correct another native speaker.
My job as a teacher is not to "promote" one grammar rule over another. My job is to simply present to students the reality of how language is used in the real world (of which test-taking and formal writing is one small slice of that world), in as many contexts as I can as is appropriate to the interests, goals, and learning level of the student. It's then up to the student to pick and choose what theh think will be most useful or applicable to their needs.
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u/Plausible_Denial2 New Poster Jan 15 '24
I am far from certain that educated people are more likely to use it incorrectly. Of course, it does not help when teachers promote incorrect usage…