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!) Just because using the "n word" may be part of the school culture, does not mean that it is acceptable to use it in school. I would start by having a lesson and explain the origin of the "n word." A lot of the students may not know where the word is derived from, they just hear it in the media. Through teaching that it is not a nice word, the students will know why they should not say it. Then create a rule that the "n word" should not be said in the classroom. This way the students are educated and understand why the rule exists, instead of telling them not to do it.