I'm a substitute teacher and twice in the last two weeks students have used the F word when I was standing close enough to overhear them. The first incident happened in a high school class and the second happened today in an elementary classroom. I'm not sure about the right course of action to take. When the first incident ocurred I pretended to not hear the student and today when the student used the F word I warned him by saying, "Hey, watch your language!"
Are these appropriate ways to deal with students who swear? Should I have been more forceful and sent the students to the principal's office? I understand that the students at the schools where I substitute have family and community problems to deal with and I assume swearing is a result of the environments they are raised in. I don't want to overreact and punish students for every minor transgression they commit but is swearing a transgression that deserves severe punishment?
How should I discipline a student who swears?
When I was a kid in elementary school (a long, long time ago, far away in another galaxy) I once made a vulgar comment to which the librarian who was teaching us research stated my opinion was not socially acceptable. He assigned me to research and write about what I said, encouraging me to explain why I felt the way I did at the moment I said what I said. My other option was to have an F grade calculated into my fianl grade for that class should I refuse to do the assignment. It changed my opinion on what I said and taught me to think before I made future slurs.
A school age child that is not grade oriented (or one that is more focused on survival than education at this time in his or her life) may respond well to exposure and peer pressure- state to the class that “Joey” said a word that is considered vulgar and low class by most social standards, so I am assigning the entire class to write a report about what impact the use of using vulgar language has in the school setting (or in social setting, or within friendships and peer setting, or even the impact it has on members of a sports team), or to write a report on why certain words are considered vulgar, or maybe write about the origin of the word (some parents may rebel, but it also will make those parents aware that cursing is a problem in this school).
Your principal and teacher should be supportive of this because it is a way to make children understand their actions can have consequences and to further their knowledge about why vulgar language is labeled as such.
Ignoring over-heard vulgarity strengthens a bully’s position that shows his/her friends/followers that even teachers are afraid of him or her. It also indirectly condones the use of vulgarity.
Saying “Hey, watch your language” with no follow-up action is a big “so what” to most children, who will laugh it off. If a report is not in your repertoire, an easier way to follow-up is “shall I ask your parents what they think of you using vulgar words?” or “Shall I ask your entire class what they think is an appropriate penalty?”
One last thought of mine is to have a class discussion on why the use of vulgarity is socially unacceptable- statistics show that movies that have a high content of vulgar actions and words cause audiences to leave the theater in a more aggressive state of mind. Sports teams that use vulgarity have also been researched and found to make each member more aggressive after the game is over that flows over into that person's social life. Is this really what we want want walking around us (walking time-bomb)?
I do not think cursing on school grounds should be overlooked, there is so much opportunity to learn from it if handled the right way. It can actually be a humorous and fun lesson.
Good Luck!
Reply:I really don't understand why you see this as a big deal at all. Swearing is quite common at all levels and ages today, and it's about time it was no longer seen as anything offensive. They are JUST WORDS! Let the kids swear! It's NORMAL! Report It
Reply:Students are rebelious against teachers naturally. Its best if you ask them politely not to curse. If you're using a harsh tone, it will just encourage him to do it more or even swear at you. "Please don't curse in class." This way you are still showing respect to the student and kindly asking them to respect you.
Reply:I think you handled both incidents well. I wouldn't go any further as you are a substitute. You aren't there long enough that it would make an impact on the students and if you send too many to the principal, they might not request you for a substitute.
Reply:call their mommy and daddys and send them to the principal and make them say what they said to them high school jut let it go
Reply:For the high school kid just let it go unless they say something really wrong. For the young kids threaten them with seeing the pricipal and if that doesn't work actually send them there.
Reply:It's totally disrespectful. Pull the student aside and let him/her know that it can't happen again. Don't discipline in front of peers, because then the student has to save face and stand his ground, further disrespecting your authority.
Reply:Slap them hard enough to make their teeth bleed. Seriously. I am so tired of people blaming home life, economics, etc on kid's behavior. Their parents are worthless and useless.
The reason I decided not to teach was because I knew I would be fired for back handing a student across the face. I have a low tolerance for people (especially kids/teens) who are not taught manners and respect for others in any setting outside of their own homes.
I'm close friends with about 6 teachers, and all of them wish they had made different career choices...
Reply:im a teacher too. for me being a teacher is being their second parent. you would feel better if you have done something good for them than letting it pass by.
Reply:I would never tolerate a student in a class room, or on the school grounds using profanity. I would take the student aside and warn him or her. Politely, but firmly. If he or she did it again, I would then march him or her to the office and let the principle call the parents. Unfortunately, sometimes that is the language a kid hears at home, so the battle becomes a little complicated. My sister teaches 5th grade, and she has the very same stories. She told me of a similar situation, where a young boy was using the "F" word in class, and on the playground. After her confronting him with a warning, he naturally did it again. She ended up sending him to the principle's office and they called the parents. What was crazy, was the dad (a red neck sort of man), came marching in and told the principle, "What's your "f"ing problem?" Rather difficult to get a kid to cooperate, when the parent has a gutter mouth too. The principle had to then warn the parent that his child could be expelled from school. At any rate, I would confront it and if it continues, they should be punished.
Another issue (which I have heard time and time from my sister and other friends who are teachers), is the reality that if you let a kid get by with certain behaviors, he or she basically is in control. You as the teacher always want to keep the upper hand.
Good Luck!
Reply:The problem is that schools nowadays never seem to back the teacher. When a teacher disciplines a student for any reason, the parent storms down to the school, threatens the principal, and the kid gets off scot free.
Frankly, I am opposed to all swearing, but it is so common among youths today that they don't even realize they are doing it. They hear it among their peers, see it on tv, hear it on the radio or their cds and it just infiltrates their brain. About all that you can do these days is to take the student aside after class (not in front of others because they will see it as a badge of honor) and simply ask that they respect the class by using appropriate language. If that doesn't work, then you may have to warn them of the consequences for future use of those words...and then do it. Don't use idle threats.
I really appreciate the work that teachers do, and I wish they didn't have such a hostile environment in which to work. Parents need to start backing the teachers, and teach personal responsibility to their kids. Otherwise, they never feel that there are any consequences for their actions.
Reply:Perhaps you should institute some ground rules for swearing with a warning for the first transgression, a time out for the second, and a trip to the principal's office for the third.
Reply:Using the F word is not a minor transgression. It is unnecessary and vulgar. Your "Hey, watch your language" response was correct. I would have also told the student to see me after class. If he or she didn't show up, off to the principals office they go. If the student does show up, I would take the time to explain WHY swearing is not only offensive and inappropriate, but also how it demeans the person doing the swearing.
Reply:I think you have handled it just right in both cases. HS students use off color language all the time so I don't think bringing it to anyones attention will do much unless it was directed at you. But the little one needed to understand it is inappropriate language for school. Great Job! Keep up the good work!
Reply:Pull him aside and make them realize that what they say truely tells people what they think about that person. Make them understand that intelligent people do not use poor language and if they desire to acheive a successful life they should change the way they speak.
Reply:punish them every time they do it
Reply:I'm an 8Th grade student and i know what works. you ether call ther parents or right up a pink slip to suspend there ***.
Reply:TELL THE STUDENT THAT WHAT IT DOES IS NOT APPROPRIATE AND THAT IF HE DOESN'T STOP HE IS NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU ANY OTHER CHOICE BUT TO EXPEL HIM!!!!
Reply:Why disipline them at all? Why are "curse words" frowned upon? Here is how I see it: Who gets to decide that hell, damn, and other "bad words" are in fact bad? Just because someone decides to make up a rule that puts shame on certain words dosen't necessarily make them bad. So I guess in that case I could hereby claim that taco is now a bad word and is no longer fit to be said aloud. Hey, why not? Do you see how everything is taken? Just because you "assume" it to be bad doesnt make it that way. Leave the kid alone. Society has everyone twisted to believe it must conform to its strict laws, and in my opinion, THAT is whats F***ed up!
Reply:swear with him! teach him the ways of word enhancers
Reply:If you were able to curtail the bad language by simply saying "watch your language"...GREAT. If the problem continues, you will probably need to get the principal and/or parents involved.
Reply:I tihnk you should make them feel stupid about it. Do it infront of the whole class. One my teacher did that to one of the kids. he said that type of language is for people who don't know how to intelligently atriculate them selves.It's not for smart people and either give them detention or send them out of the classroom.And tell them to come back when they smarten up.
Reply:do it old school
Reply:I think the best course of action would be to speak to the other teachers in the school and ask them what they would do. I think a warning and then if it happens again then a detention or missing recess for the younger student, but different schools handle these situations differently.
Reply:I have to disagree with you on this one. A word is just a word, it depends on HOW the word is used. I personally wouldn't worry about a high school kid swearing, there's too many other more important issues to worry about like drugs/alcohol, behavior towards others, depression, etc. Granted, it's looked at as disrespectful to say a bad word but I think that's just because of the way 'society' has viewed these words, if you think about it logically, it's just a word.
You should see what the school's policy is about discipline for swearing and follow policy.
NOTE: I WORK IN A CORPORATE OFFICE FOR A LARGE NATIONAL RETAILER, I WORK WITH 8 VICE-PRESIDENTS AND EVERYONE HERE SWEARS LIKE CRAZY - IT'S NOT UNACCEPTABLE IN THE WORK PLACE AND IT'S NOT JUST UNINTELLIGENT PEOPLE THAT SWEAR.
Reply:Its just a word, if the kid is otherwise a good student lay off.
and btw The best professor I ever has cursed like a sailor.
Reply:throw books at them or give them a DT which involves sentences. They hate it when they got to write!
Reply:The class room is a place of learning.
It is extremely disruptive when some punk walks in and starts disrupting the harmony of the learning environment.
No company would ever tolerate that kind on vulgarity in the board room/workplace. You are the CEO of that class room, and you shouldn't tolerate it either.
I wouldn't let that kid into my classroom - period!!!!
Reply:swearing is becoming a major issue in schools today as nearly everyone casually swears. i blame the media as swearing is everywhere - in movies, TV etc... or maybe it's just a phase that every kid goes through.
You can either try and accept the fact that times are changing and to try and censor the media would be like trying to move mountains or you could try and be more cunning. Try giving awards or small prizes to those who do not swear. it worked for my class. For example, you have a scoreboard and every time you hear a kid swear, you can add a mark by the child's name. At the end of the week or month, the person with the lowest score can get a small prize, like five dollars or something. i hope this is useful!
Reply:i think its ok for them to say it.
its not like the olden times anymore.
its the modern time now.
the modern time.
people say that crap all the time.
its just not when a teachers around you know?%26gt;
maybe your too old or from the late centuries but its commmon.
realll common.
if not just telll their parents or on the principal
then they will hate you and talk bs behind your back.
Reply:Call them by name out in the hallway.
Once in the hall state "If you cuss again, I'm bringing you to the principals office and we'll call your mother and I'll have you SAY exactly what you said in front of me".
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