Anonymous wrote:I have had this conversation with my HS DC's many times. Expressions like "... or some s**t" or "GD it!" or "frickin" "yo, bitches" are borderline, although in common and constant use. All efforts to use self control in speech are important because they could slip out at the worst times. So although oh my gosh is pretty mild to me, practicing control of ones speech is very important habit to learn, particularly in MS. The teacher sounds like a nerd, tho.

Anonymous wrote: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?

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Anonymous wrote:Strict is good. It's sad that strictness is so rare these days as to be worthy of comment.

Oh, FFS. Stop romanticizing the good old days. Nothing has changed as much as you think.

Anonymous wrote:It's a public school. And he is the math teacher.

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Oh yes, not what you mention it, he told the class that they should say "Oh my goodness gracious" instead of the others. If they are heard saying "OMG" or "Oh my gosh" or "Oh My God" then they will be given two warnings, then he will call the parents or something like that. Looking forward to meeting this guy on Back to School night...

I wonder what he thinks "oh my goodness" is a euphemism for. (Hint: the same thing that "oh my gosh" is a euphemism for.)

Don't be silly - it's an accepted fact that goodness is less offensive than gosh, because it's a positive word, and gosh doesn't mean anything and is more obviously a place-holder for God.

Why is "God" a bad word to use?

It's not a bad word, it's a too-casual use of an important word. It's taking the Lord's name in vain. But you knew that.

Anonymous wrote:Strict is good. It's sad that strictness is so rare these days as to be worthy of comment.

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Anonymous wrote:

Oh yes, not what you mention it, he told the class that they should say "Oh my goodness gracious" instead of the others. If they are heard saying "OMG" or "Oh my gosh" or "Oh My God" then they will be given two warnings, then he will call the parents or something like that. Looking forward to meeting this guy on Back to School night...

I wonder what he thinks "oh my goodness" is a euphemism for. (Hint: the same thing that "oh my gosh" is a euphemism for.)

Don't be silly - it's an accepted fact that goodness is less offensive than gosh, because it's a positive word, and gosh doesn't mean anything and is more obviously a place-holder for God.

Why is "God" a bad word to use?

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Anonymous wrote:

Oh yes, not what you mention it, he told the class that they should say "Oh my goodness gracious" instead of the others. If they are heard saying "OMG" or "Oh my gosh" or "Oh My God" then they will be given two warnings, then he will call the parents or something like that. Looking forward to meeting this guy on Back to School night...

I wonder what he thinks "oh my goodness" is a euphemism for. (Hint: the same thing that "oh my gosh" is a euphemism for.)

Don't be silly - it's an accepted fact that goodness is less offensive than gosh, because it's a positive word, and gosh doesn't mean anything and is more obviously a place-holder for God.

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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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

I would have thought that too. But it does not appear that this is a dry sense of humor which I actually appreciate. He just seems very strict. He sent home a sheet with the classroom grading policy for parents to sign to be brought in the next day. A few kids did not bring it in the following day but the day later. This sheet counted as a grade and the ones who brought it in the second day received a 75% because it was a day late. This was the first week of school! I'd like to be proven wrong and hope that he is being so strict in the beginning to set the tone for the year. I will meet him next week at the Back-to-School night.