Re: Profanity in the Classroom?

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On 1/24/11, Piper Lynch wrote:
> Are teachers required to be the 'potty mouth' police? What
> are some acceptable ways to handle classroom language and
> profanity?

I find rough language brings down the tone of my classroom. I
understand that kids use such language among themselves often
and casually but do I? Maybe at home... sometimes... but there
is a polite way to speak and polite speech does not include
rough or foul language.

I don't use such language in my classroom and I expect them to
do the same. If they slip once in a while, they should
apologize - and they do - and rephrase - and they do that as
well. I don't make a formal statement about it but on the first
use of inappropriate language, I raise my eyebrows in pleasant
warning - if an apology is not immediately forthcoming, I
explain my position - nicely.
I find that's all it takes to keep potty mouth down to the
minimum and from them on there are but occasional slips when
someone is excited and they do apologize.
Potty mouth as you say is now commonly used - people speak that
way over their cell phones in public, they shout such words at
strangers, it's common on radio and television to hear such words.
If a student insists they are allowed to speak that way at
home, I say "You're not at home now."  

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