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  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!)
Kristin, I think that you need to what best suits you in your classroom. I don't see anything wrong with making a rule that suggests students must use appropriate and respectful language in your classroom. I teach fifth grade and I have some words that I do not allow in my classroom, these words are "shut up" and "retard". I can not stand those words. I don't like the "n-word either", but luckily my students don't use that word as far as I have heard, but we do disuss negative and inappropriate slurs when discussing prejudice and discrimination. After establishing the rule I would then do a mini-lesson on why that slur is so inappropriate, maybe show clips from the Civil War. I hope this helps!
 
     
     
  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: April 18, 2013 8:01 pm
Rated By: Ashley Dellane
 
     
     
  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: April 24, 2013 3:16 am
Rated By: Elizabeth Powers
 
     
     
  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 with this solution.
Rated On: February 25, 2015 8:05 pm
Rated By: aNaQev
 
     
     
  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!
Rated On: February 21, 2018 6:24 pm
Rated By: uJyGep
 
     
     
  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 great solution, explain why negative language is not allowed because while it may not offend some, it offends other.
Rated On: October 13, 2018 6:55 pm
Rated By: aGuraz
 
     
     
  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 24, 2020 3:42 am
Rated By: amajuj
 
     
     
  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: Showing them why it could hurt others feelings could help a lot.
Rated On: October 19, 2020 3:09 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