My child's teacher in middle school has rules about what they aren't allowed to say in class
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Anonymous
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One of them is they cannot say "Oh my gosh" (in addition to "Oh my God" or "OMG")
This is one of those phrases that my daughter seems to say quite often (as do I). I'm not sure I understand his reasoning behind not being allowed to say this (I somewhat understand "Oh my God" as he thinks that can be offensive to people which is why I and my children tend to say "Oh My Gosh). And my daughter as well as a few other kids have already gotten in trouble for saying it (7 days into the new school year). Does this rule seem excessive? Or is it a typical rule to keep middle schoolers in line? |
Anonymous
| My grandmother considered gosh a cuss word |
Anonymous
| Is he an English teacher? |
Anonymous
My mother did too, we weren't allowed to say it growing up. Even if it weren't true, the teacher is allowed to dislike certain phrases and tell kids not to use them. It's not like she's censoring content. |
Anonymous
| Is it a religious school? |
Anonymous
| 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. |
Anonymous
| It's a public school. And he is the math teacher. |
Anonymous
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. |
Anonymous
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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!" |
Anonymous
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Hmm, I would get it from an English teacher, perhaps wanting to make kids hyper-conscious of verbal ticks and crutches and slang. My 7th grade teacher made us pay a quarter for using the slang of our local dialect (for which I thank her every time I think of it), because until we recognized we were doing it, we couldn't stop and give a decent oral presentation. You don't want kids saying it during a speech, but if it is such a habit that saying without even thinking or being aware of it, such a rule helps them become conscious of those habits of speech that are informal.
So, odd that it is the math teacher, but I can see it serving a legit purpose. |
Anonymous
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No its not a religion or political correctness thing. I teach middle school and it is the constant go- to term. Good for that teacher, but it won't work.tKids really feel they are in charge.
It goes like this: "Brandon, can you please put your phone away." Brandon: "Oh my god. "Kaitlyn, let's listen please" Kaitlyn: "Oh my god." "No homework, guys?" "Oh my god." " You just punched him? Really?" "Oh my god." "Can you please return to your own seat, put your phone away and the doritos and start the warm that's been on the whiteboard for ten minutes." "OH MY GOD" 
Yes, it's a rude reply. When the kid says that, they are saying" oh the outrageousness of what you are saying to me, teacher, telling me to do what I'm supposed to be doing." As a parent, you might not witness this 500 hundred times a day from kids who refuse to be told what to do. |
Anonymous
| Teacher sounds like a narcissistic ass. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Teachers are human. They can be offended by things and it's better that this teacher told the students ahead of time. If your daughter got in trouble, maybe she will learn to refrain from saying "oh my gosh" in front of that teacher. There are many times in life when we need to use our words carefully or when we are in a more formal environment and need to act accordingly. |
Anonymous
So don't give him any chocolate bars. But I think that you should let your daughter decide whether or not to participate in those shenanigans for herself. Here is what I would tell my daughter, "I think it's a silly rule. But it's his rule. As you have found out, if you don't follow his rule, you get in trouble. Is saying "Oh my gosh" important enough to you to justify getting in trouble for it?" And not as a rhetorical question either. As a sincere question. Maybe it is important enough to your daughter. Now, if he were doing something really serious, like abusing or bullying students in his class, or insulting whole groups of people, then I would bring it to the attention of the principal. But I don't think that banning "Oh my gosh" and asking for chocolate bars rises to that level. |