Teaching and swearing

Ive seen teachers repeat it back to them. However, i dont think there's any need for it really. If you repeat it you are sending the message that its okay for you to say, and therefore it is okay on some level.

Reply 2

OP

Original post by Shelly_x

Ive seen teachers repeat it back to them. However, i dont think there's any need for it really. If you repeat it you are sending the message that its okay for you to say, and therefore it is okay on some level.

But that's my point! It is okay on some level. It's okay on the level that the word itself is not the bit that should cause offence, it's the meaning of the word. And the meaning of the word varies depending on the context in which it is used. We shouldn't be teaching children that there are these magic collections of sounds which are intrinsically offensive. That is absolutely nonsense. It's not the sound of the word in your ears that's the offensive bit, it's the meaning which it signifies. It is absurd to suggest to kids that it is worse to say "you should not call each other the word 'faggot'" than to say "you should not call each other the F-word". Both statements mean the exact same thing, because everyone knows what the "F-word" is. Claiming there is some kind of special power that the word has when uttered out loud is a warped and childish view of how language works - like suggesting the boogey-man will come and get you if you utter his name.

Words are tools used to signify concepts. It is the concepts which the words signify and not the words themselves which are the important things.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 3

cambio wechsel

20

Original post by Squoosh25

It is absurd to suggest to kids that it is worse to say "you should not call each other the word 'faggot'" than to say "you should not call each other the F-word". Both statements mean the exact same thing, because everyone knows what the "F-word" is.

Not me, I though the F-word was ****. Possibly I'm old fashioned.

In this context, "don't call each other the F-word", I'd likely construe it as F***er.

Reply 4

the bear

20

tbh i would exercise extreme caution in the classroom. children nowadays and their vile parents will not hesitate to make your life a misery given half a chance.

Reply 5

OP

Original post by cambio wechsel

Not me, I though the F-word was ****. Possibly I'm old fashioned.

In this context, "don't call each other the F-word", I'd likely construe it as F***er.

True, though I suppose in my hypothetical example I am imagining that the pupil has said it aloud, in class, and everyone has heard it said so they do know which word we are talking about.

Original post by the bear

tbh i would exercise extreme caution in the classroom. children nowadays and their vile parents will not hesitate to make your life a misery given half a chance.

Yeah, this is basically what I'm afraid of. I'm torn between what I believe to be right, and wanting to nonetheless protect myself; hence this thread.

Reply 6

Original post by Squoosh25

True, though I suppose in my hypothetical example I am imagining that the pupil has said it aloud, in class, and everyone has heard it said so they do know which word we are talking about.

Yeah, this is basically what I'm afraid of. I'm torn between what I believe to be right, and wanting to nonetheless protect myself; hence this thread.

Always protect yourself from anything that could cause a parent or student to make an allegation. You might think its not right to teach kids that words are banned, but kids can twist anything you say - so be careful.

Reply 7

OP

Original post by Shelly_x

Always protect yourself from anything that could cause a parent or student to make an allegation. You might think its not right to teach kids that words are banned, but kids can twist anything you say - so be careful.

Yeah, this is what I'm afraid of. Maybe this is a stupid question, but is there any rule against audio recording your own lessons, so that if anyone accused you of anything, you'd have direct evidence of what you actually said?

Reply 8

Original post by Squoosh25

Yeah, this is what I'm afraid of. Maybe this is a stupid question, but is there any rule against audio recording your own lessons, so that if anyone accused you of anything, you'd have direct evidence of what you actually said?

Yeah pretty sure that's massively frowned upon, if not illegal. You need permission to photograph or record pupils, so I don't see why you wouldn't need it for audio recording.
Just don't swear at all around the pupils and you'll be fine. If you do, you'll likely be greeted with 'well you can say it why can't I' etc.

Reply 9

OP

Original post by Shelly_x

If you do, you'll likely be greeted with 'well you can say it why can't I' etc.

That's true, but ideally in that situation I would hopefully have the chance to explain to them why the word differs depending on the context in which it was used. I fully believe that teaching kids the meaning of what they say is more important than artificially censoring the words themselves and ignoring meanings of words.

Of course, this is best-case-scenario. I guess I would have to judge depending on whether I deemed the class mature enough to actually understand the matter at hand.

Reply 10

Original post by Squoosh25

That's true, but ideally in that situation I would hopefully have the chance to explain to them why the word differs depending on the context in which it was used. I fully believe that teaching kids the meaning of what they say is more important than artificially censoring the words themselves and ignoring meanings of words.

Of course, this is best-case-scenario. I guess I would have to judge depending on whether I deemed the class mature enough to actually understand the matter at hand.

I think that's pretty unrealistic to be honest. The type of kids that are mature enough to understand that premise are unlikely to be the ones swearing in class. Many would just respond with 'so we can say it so long as we don't mean it? Cool!'.

Reply 11

jeffercake