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!) Being a new teacher, coming into a new school, you have to make your rules and wants clear to the students. While they may find it acceptable to use the n-word and some people still do that is their own prerogative. However, there is a time and a place for that language and if your classroom is not that place, you simply tell them that they are not to use that term. The use of that word can also be offensive to someone who is in the room or nearby, so the students need to be respectful of that fact as well. I would not explain why they shouldn't use the word because it is more than likely slang for them. However, it is your classroom and if you do not want that term used in your class, make a rule about not saying it. That term is not appropriate for school anyways so I would also bring this up to the principal and see what she/he says about the issue. Maybe he/she can put a stop to the use of that term.                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: Rated On: February 18, 2013 12:55 pm Rated By: Katy Willoughby                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: I agree setting clear rules will help. Rated On: October 19, 2020 3:11 am Rated By: peXehu                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: This is a helpful solution I will use in my future. Rated On: November 25, 2022 2:06 pm Rated By: segeRa