My child's teacher in middle school has rules about what they aren't allowed to say in class

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see no problem with this. I don't think its appropriate to say these things at work, I think children should be reared the same way.

Well, school is not work. But I think that people, in general, should know that certain language is appropriate in certain places but not appropriate in certain other places. In fact, linguists have a phrase for it: code-switching.

School is the closest thing kids have to work, it's appropriate to teach them that the same behavior that might fly with their friends doesn't fly in more formal settings. I certainly wouldn't want my child using the various banished phrases in a college admissions interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see no problem with this. I don't think its appropriate to say these things at work, I think children should be reared the same way.

Well, school is not work. But I think that people, in general, should know that certain language is appropriate in certain places but not appropriate in certain other places. In fact, linguists have a phrase for it: code-switching.

So when should children learn appropriate language in certain situations? Middle school seems like the perfect age, if not earlier. These kids will be getting their first jobs in a few years. They should start learning now that you should say OMG when you are having a more serious conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see no problem with this. I don't think its appropriate to say these things at work, I think children should be reared the same way.

Well, school is not work. But I think that people, in general, should know that certain language is appropriate in certain places but not appropriate in certain other places. In fact, linguists have a phrase for it: code-switching.

So when should children learn appropriate language in certain situations? Middle school seems like the perfect age, if not earlier. These kids will be getting their first jobs in a few years. They should start learning now that you should say OMG when you are having a more serious conversation.

Yes, it does. I am the PP you are responding to. That's what I said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see no problem with this. I don't think its appropriate to say these things at work, I think children should be reared the same way.

Well, school is not work. But I think that people, in general, should know that certain language is appropriate in certain places but not appropriate in certain other places. In fact, linguists have a phrase for it: code-switching.

So when should children learn appropriate language in certain situations? Middle school seems like the perfect age, if not earlier. These kids will be getting their first jobs in a few years. They should start learning now that you should say OMG when you are having a more serious conversation.

Yes, it does. I am the PP you are responding to. That's what I said.

Sorry. Got confused by the "well, school is not work." Comment.

[Anonymous]

Not my hill.

If my kid came home indignant after using said word is give her the choice of buying the candy bar or writing a thesis on the stupidity of the rule. Her choice.

I'd assume the best of the teacher until proven otherwise (does enforcing these banned words impact instruction?$

[Anonymous]

not worth critiquing. and "OMG" often comes with attitude from middle schoolers.

[Anonymous]

Reminders to speak properly are fine. Punishing kids for using words that are commonly used in normal english conversation isn't okay in my book. There are other ways to get a point across, even to middle schoolers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher sounds like a narcissistic ass.

From someone who never ever had to teach middle schoolers. Teacher sounds humorous and on the level of kids with humor they understand. He really did not expect 25 candy bars.

OH MY GOD.


Parents are super scary these days...it' a wonder how anyone would want to teach.

OP here. I really do not think the teacher is trying to be humorous. He told the class that last year he received 300 candy bars from his students as if he expected the same this year. I just asked my daughter what the banished words/phrases are:

OMG
Oh my gosh
oh my God
literally
I hate
like
any text talk: LOL, legit, etc.

Someone got spoken to harshly for saying "LOL" yesterday.

He spoke harshly to a kid who said "LOL" He said "Why would you say LOL when you didn't laugh out loud?"

My hat is off to any teacher fighting the good fight against text speak. Hearing middle-schoolers speak that way, with the accompanying attitude, day in and day out would drive me mad. Forcing them to actually think for a moment about what comes out of their mouths will probably serve them better in life than algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I concur with the teacher.

You should not say "darn" or "gosh", because they are too close to the "damn" and "God" that they replace.

Anyway, they're boring. I tell my children to get a little creative with their swearing ersatz.
"Oh my sainted pants!" - old classic
"Blistering Barnacles!" - Tintin
"Lumpish codpiece!" - Shakespearean (could mean limp penis)

My 5 year old daintily says : "Oh my gracious goodness!" in such old lady tones, it's hilarious.

At her age, I imitated my mother and swore out loud in front of my very proper teacher: "Merde merde merde!"

It's goodness gracious.

[Anonymous]

Lawyer up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lawyer up.

LOL!

[Anonymous]

OH EM GEEE!

OP, land the helicopter. Literally. Mean like chill out. Seriosly. WTF is wrong with U?!?

In all seriousness OP, you are getting worked up about nothing and letting your daughter push all your wrong buttons. I assume sue was in elementary last year and she is your only/oldest?

This sounds like a good teacher. Perhaps a VERY good teacher. He is a math teacher who cares enough about his students to also care about teaching them to communicate properly, effectively and professionally, and as a math teacher to boot. He is interacting with them on a personal level and teaching them how to listen and quickly learn about others just by listening (completely a lost skill in this text/instagram age). He has a sense of humor and is teaching the kids how to interact as young adults instead of elementary school children.

As PP pointed out, this teacher is CLEARLY well liked and respected by the students. As evident by 300 chocolate bars last year and the number he has received so far this year. Middle school kids do not bring treats for the teacher they do not like or do not respect.

This sounds like an exceptional teacher for middle school. I hope he is as good at math as he appears to be as a teacher in general.

Step back on this one OP and do not encourage your daughter's complaining. Be neutral and see how it goes.

My bet is that your daughter got one of the more desireable math teachers in the grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One week into school and the teacher is already disciplining multiple kids for something that inane seems like a teacher that doesn't know how to pick their battles.

Yes, I am getting a bad vibe from him based on what my daughter has been telling me. But I'm trying to remain open minded as I'm only hearing one side. He handed out a quiz a few days into school that's all about "My Teacher"

1. Where is Mr. Jay (name changed) from? Big City, USA
2. What's his favorite food? chocolate bar
3. What's the ONLY way to suck up to Mr. Jay? Give him a chocolate bar

My daughter told me that he has already received 30 chocolate bars from students. I REFUSE to participate in those shenanigans.

Is his name Gilderoy Lockhart?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I concur with the teacher.

You should not say "darn" or "gosh", because they are too close to the "damn" and "God" that they replace.

Anyway, they're boring. I tell my children to get a little creative with their swearing ersatz.
"Oh my sainted pants!" - old classic
"Blistering Barnacles!" - Tintin
"Lumpish codpiece!" - Shakespearean (could mean limp penis)

My 5 year old daintily says : "Oh my gracious goodness!" in such old lady tones, it's hilarious.

At her age, I imitated my mother and swore out loud in front of my very proper teacher: "Merde merde merde!"

Lumpish codpiece is not appropriate for a child. You know what it means, so why recommend it?

OP, the teacher sounds like an ass. So this will be a good lesson for your DD in how not to let someone else's assholery stand in the way of her goals (to learn math and to get a good grade).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Lumpish codpiece is not appropriate for a child. You know what it means, so why recommend it?

Oh, good grief.

As far as I can tell, there is no "lumpish codpiece" in any of Shakespeare's writings. Lumpish yes, and codpiece yes, but not together.