"Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little." - Tom Stoppard, Famous British Playwright
At the start of each school year, I begin with a mini-unit entitled "The Power of Words."
As an English Teacher, this makes sense.
One of the components I include is the power of both positive and negative words on our lives. Over the years, I have I refined this, and in the last three years, I have included a note directly targeted to profanity and cursing.
The issue of cursing is a hot topic for teenagers. Many of them equate being "more adult, mature, and grown up" with cursing.
My job as a lover of words is to get them to rethink this logic, so I teach on this. I tell them that cursing and using profanity is "too low" for them. I liken the continued and repeated use of profanity with nothing more than what a baby does when he or she says "Goo-goo, Ga-ga" all the time. This illustration challenges their way of thinking that cursing is so "grown up" and mature. I hope that when someone curses all they see is a big baby with a pacifier going "Goo-goo, Ga-ga." Using this imagery sometimes makes students angry or perplexed, but I WANT to challenge their thinking. I WANT them to camp on the idea for awhile and process it for themselves. I know if they get angry or confused, they are responding to the example. I want to challenge their choices, and I want them to create more choice in their life.
When a person reaches for the same few curse words all the time, he or she is completely limiting and inhibiting the ability to explain one's feelings, emotions, and needs. Why not use a more detailed and richer vocabulary word instead?
Students love the thought of becoming millionaires, so I draw from statistics that show that one's quantity and quality of vocabulary directly correlate to life-time earnings. I explain this to them as vocabulary is directly related to "money in your pocket." How many young people don't want to think about putting more money in their pockets? Oh, yeah. :)
Several of this year's students are VERY inquisitive and a bit defensive about their perceived "right" to curse. Students are not allowed to curse in school or in class, so they are not cursing in my presence or they will get a Referral and Detention, but it would be naive of me to think that many students do not curse. This week in class several asked me about their First Amendment right to freedom of speech. In school, cursing is not covered, just like talking about guns or bombs going through a Security Checkpoint is not covered. Speech that does harm is not covered. Cursing is disruptive in a classroom. Of course, no police officer is going to arrest a teenager for cursing outside of school, but they have been known to warn excessive public cursers about disorderly conduct.
There is also another aspect to this debate. Many parents of these students curse and allow their children to curse at home or in public. I REALLY struggle with this, but I also think that the parents may or may not be educated about the real influence of cursing on their children. These students who live with prolific cursing are likely to come to school and "slip" in class. We need parents to help their children realize that cursing is just "too low" for their children. Would a parent want a baby or child to "come out" cursing? Of course not. Please don't encourage or ignore this in your teenagers.
Curse words DO NOT make someone more mature or tough. Not at all. Why not use a different word richer in meaning?
That is what reflects maturity and a greater expanse of choice.
As an English Teacher, this makes sense.
One of the components I include is the power of both positive and negative words on our lives. Over the years, I have I refined this, and in the last three years, I have included a note directly targeted to profanity and cursing.
The issue of cursing is a hot topic for teenagers. Many of them equate being "more adult, mature, and grown up" with cursing.
My job as a lover of words is to get them to rethink this logic, so I teach on this. I tell them that cursing and using profanity is "too low" for them. I liken the continued and repeated use of profanity with nothing more than what a baby does when he or she says "Goo-goo, Ga-ga" all the time. This illustration challenges their way of thinking that cursing is so "grown up" and mature. I hope that when someone curses all they see is a big baby with a pacifier going "Goo-goo, Ga-ga." Using this imagery sometimes makes students angry or perplexed, but I WANT to challenge their thinking. I WANT them to camp on the idea for awhile and process it for themselves. I know if they get angry or confused, they are responding to the example. I want to challenge their choices, and I want them to create more choice in their life.
When a person reaches for the same few curse words all the time, he or she is completely limiting and inhibiting the ability to explain one's feelings, emotions, and needs. Why not use a more detailed and richer vocabulary word instead?
Students love the thought of becoming millionaires, so I draw from statistics that show that one's quantity and quality of vocabulary directly correlate to life-time earnings. I explain this to them as vocabulary is directly related to "money in your pocket." How many young people don't want to think about putting more money in their pockets? Oh, yeah. :)
Several of this year's students are VERY inquisitive and a bit defensive about their perceived "right" to curse. Students are not allowed to curse in school or in class, so they are not cursing in my presence or they will get a Referral and Detention, but it would be naive of me to think that many students do not curse. This week in class several asked me about their First Amendment right to freedom of speech. In school, cursing is not covered, just like talking about guns or bombs going through a Security Checkpoint is not covered. Speech that does harm is not covered. Cursing is disruptive in a classroom. Of course, no police officer is going to arrest a teenager for cursing outside of school, but they have been known to warn excessive public cursers about disorderly conduct.
There is also another aspect to this debate. Many parents of these students curse and allow their children to curse at home or in public. I REALLY struggle with this, but I also think that the parents may or may not be educated about the real influence of cursing on their children. These students who live with prolific cursing are likely to come to school and "slip" in class. We need parents to help their children realize that cursing is just "too low" for their children. Would a parent want a baby or child to "come out" cursing? Of course not. Please don't encourage or ignore this in your teenagers.
Curse words DO NOT make someone more mature or tough. Not at all. Why not use a different word richer in meaning?
That is what reflects maturity and a greater expanse of choice.
"To swear is neither brave, polite, or wise." - Alexander Pope, Famous 18th Century English Poet
"Be careful of your words, for they become your thoughts. Be careful of your thoughts, for they become your actions. Be careful of your actions, for they become your character. Be careful of your character, for it becomes your destiny." - Anonymous
I hope you think about this and develop your own thoughts.
I hope you think about this and develop your own thoughts.
I would love to hear them here if you want to share.
