How should a history teacher handle the "N" word?

[♪alt13]

I just mean in general conversation IRL. Saying the "N" word is just as offensive as saying ******. Everyone says ****** in their head when they hear "the n word".

I agree with you.

You use the word when necessary in adult conversations and you act like an adult about it, but perhaps 8th graders are not adult enough for that. Maybe/maybe not? After thinking about it "the n word" is probably appropriate for a jr. high school teacher to use, in high school ****** should be used to tackle the same subject matter.

 

[♪alt13]

I just remembered a story, did I handle it correctly?

One afternoon while walking home from elementary school with my child one of the boys(African American) was spitting out ****** this, ****** that. I said "Hey, does your mom know you speak that way?" and gave him a look like you know better.

Did I act as a good member of my village or was I simply exercising my privilege?

Spoiler

I tend to think both

 

[Boris]

Give me a rough percentage estimate of the parents in America capable of instructing their children on America's history of oppression and systematic discrimination against black Americans that still persists into 2016. Hell, half of America probably doesn't even think white privilege exists.

Uh, probably close to 100%.

 

[Gameface]

what makes you think that?

that's what his parents taught him?

 

[Boris]

Because they know their kids the best, and can tailor the discussion appropriately. And can pick the appropriate time for the discussion. And don't have artificial time constraints. And know the kids' backgrounds so can draw appropriate analogies and examples. And so forth.

Why would you NOT think that? Do you have any kids yourself? I'm guessing not.

This. Why do europeans in particular think US parents do not know their kids best and why parenting is some king of one size fits all model? Every child is different and has special developmental needs. These guys w out kids who think some extra terrestrial alien type model of raising them all perfectly are loonie. Do they not understand some are special needs, some have confidence issues, some have overconfidence bully issues, some are too smart for there own good?

I guess it bothers me when foreigners want to raise are kids according to some one world government standardized robotic model. That is what I am getting from some of these recent comments. They remind me of the childs being harvested in The Matrix.

 

[Gameface]

Teaching kids U.S. history and introducing them to the word in question (no Cy, I don't say the word in my head when I see that. I don't. You can tell me I do, but I don't) is not such a delicate operation. It doesn't take a parent to know how to do it right. It takes a parent to pass on their own prejudice and bigotry.

Parents suck. Like 90% of the time, they are the worst option.

Plus, parents, your kids aren't as special as you think they are. They don't need your customized approach on this issue, they just need good info.

Silly *** **** going on here.

 

[Boris]

Teaching kids U.S. history and introducing them to the word in question (no Cy, I don't say the word in my head when I see that. I don't. You can tell me I do, but I don't) is not such a delicate operation. It doesn't take a parent to know how to do it right. It takes a parent to pass on their own prejudice and bigotry.

Parents suck. Like 90% of the time, they are the worst option.

Plus, parents, your kids aren't as special as you think they are. They don't need your customized approach on this issue, they just need good info.

Silly *** **** going on here.

Ok I get this from an educational standpoint. We need are kids to learn from educators but what I do not get is why you think parents suck so damn bad that they cannot raise there own kids. Like, do you really believe parents should be outlawed and we should all be produce of the state because this is how you're statement reads to me. Sorry if I did not read correct.

 

[babe]

Ok I get this from an educational standpoint. We need are kids to learn from educators but what I do not get is why you think parents suck so damn bad that they cannot raise there own kids. Like, do you really believe parents should be outlawed and we should all be produce of the state because this is how you're statement reads to me. Sorry if I did not read correct.

no, I'm sure it's nothing like that, just appropriately nuanced and refined complexities of legitimate political correctness. Parents just need to go with the flow.

uhhhmmmm. . . . lesseeee. . . . . we have all the right people right here to show the right way.

 

[babe]

Give me a rough percentage estimate of the parents in America capable of instructing their children on America's history of oppression and systematic discrimination against black Americans that still persists into 2016. Hell, half of America probably doesn't even think white privilege exists.

You might be on to something here. Since the issue of "white privilege" was unknown in America when there was actually such a thing, nobody even talked about it. And since most of us missed out on the college class on the subject, hardly anyone really knows anything about it today.

For example, I have never met a vampire, and I doubt they exist, but there's more vampire literature out there than white privilege literature. And for all my conversational baiting on the subject, I've never had anyone actually insist that they have something they consider to be 'white" privilege.

Privilege actually isn't white, it's green.

uhhhmmmm. . . . . . I think there is something in the mind of progressive advocates for change that is, essentially, something I would identify as political privilege, a sort of aura or mantel claimed to root out and reform the unprivileged classes who live in the world as it is, not as it should be.

 

[Scat]

There's a HUGE difference between allowing students to read something, and REQUIRING them to read something. Those were all in my school library. Huck Finn was REQUIRED, and contains the n-word. It was not required of 8th graders, it was required of 11th or 12th graders (can't recall which). Our teacher told us why he was requiring it, and warned us that the n-word was used, much like it sounds like this junior high teacher did. The difference is age and maturity of the students, 8th graders compared to 11th or 12th graders.

Jumping from my opinion that a movie with the n-word not be REQUIRED of 8th graders, to a suggestion that I'm in favor of banning all books for all students, is despicable.

I edited my post so as not to be despicable.

 

[Gameface]

no, I'm sure it's nothing like that, just appropriately nuanced and refined complexities of legitimate political correctness. Parents just need to go with the flow.

uhhhmmmm. . . . lesseeee. . . . . we have all the right people right here to show the right way.

It has nothing to do with political correctness. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Parents should have full control over their parenting. They should also get over themselves. And they should let their children get educated by education professionals as much as possible.

Imagine if you only had one teacher through school who taught you everything, from kindergarten to 12th grade. Is that the best scenario?

 

[Darkwing Duck]

I'm finding it hard to believe that people in this thread are saying that the teaching of the history of a socially charged word is something seemingly incomprehensible to 13 year olds yet say that the concept of religion and baptism and everything that comes with it is perfectly understandable for an 8 year old...

I was in a private religious school when I was 10 and was shown a movie where the teacher very explicitly explained that there was use of the word "*******" as a term of endearment and that we weren't to use the word because we couldn't be in such a situation at our age.

Also, given the importance of the subject matter, not sure how this is any different from math. Has to be taught. Responsibility of education in general to do so given the political location of the institution (read: USA) since parents can't be fully trusted to do so. The manner in which it's taught is of course up for debate, but this sort of method likely isn't something new for the teacher with nothing noteworthy happening the last x amount of years the teacher has taught, so my thoughts on why this has come up is due more to sociocultural reasons than educational.