Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: The N-Word My name is Kristin. I have taught high school English for nine years in a rural school. Recently, my husband and I had to move to a much larger city because of a promotion my husband received. I found a job as an English teacher at a high school that serves mostly African American and Hispanic students. My new students are nice and respectful. However, there is one issue that has been bothering me. I have been seeing my students talking to each other using the "n word." They are not bothered by this, but even in class discussions, if they are responding to one another, sometimes they use the "n word." In my previous school, we were very strict about these types of slurs. I am at loss now. Is this part of the school culture? Should I explain to my students why they should not use that word? Should I make a rule about it? I do not know how to deal with this. Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) I would suggest talking to the guidance councilor, other teachers, or the administration. Although the 'n' word is seen as offensive the culture of this school and those particular students may be accepting of it. If you feel uncomfortable in the situations where the students use it I would make a class rule that it is not to be said within the four walls of the class. By 'banning' words like this students will be challenged to speak differently than they do in the hall or at home. For an English class this would be great because students have to articulate what they want to say in a new form.