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 think that you should make a rule that in your classroom, that word is not to be used. It is normal for students to refer to each other using the n-word however it is a derogatory word and it should not be allowed in schools. If I were the teacher, I would keep a tally every time the word is used and deduct points from the students who use it. The rule should be that the students cannot say any words that the teacher is not allowed to say.