Trying hard to be politically correct

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High School Teachers Chatboard

Trying hard to be politically correct

by Kirsten

Jun 14, 2013

I'm a new teacher and I feel like I put my foot in my mouth in front of students on a daily basis.

I used the term "Indian giver" in front of the students. As soon as I came out, I realized that it was an offensive term (I'd never used the term before, although I have heard it). I apologized to the students and explained that I hadn't thought about what I was saying in depth and hadn't meant to use offensive language. Is there anything else I should have done, or done differently? Besides not saying it.

Could I lose my job?

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Granjero You should never fear the use of the common English language. It is laden with many idioms that could be offensive to a great deal of people. While I think it might be better to avoid using that particular term in the future, I can't for the life of me think of a synonym - can you?

What I always do when I accidentally say something that I...See More

Jun 14, 2013

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Nan I know if I used that term the first thing I'd hear would be: "Is it because I'm brown?" Of course the kid who would say that would laugh if I got frazzled. We are use to each other.

The best response is to say "oops, I didn't mean that," but only if the kids react. Otherwise, when I say something stupid, I tend to gloss over it. In genera...See More

Jun 14, 2013

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Vet Teacher On 6/14/13, Kirsten wrote: > I'm a new teacher and I feel like I put my foot in my mouth > in front of students on a daily basis.

We all do - teaching a group of high schoolers often requires a quick response or quick retort and it's natural to make some missteps in what we say. I doubt you can lose your job over a single statement....See MoreOn 6/14/13, Kirsten wrote: > I'm a new teacher and I feel like I put my foot in my mouth > in front of students on a daily basis.

We all do - teaching a group of high schoolers often requires a quick response or quick retort and it's natural to make some missteps in what we say. I doubt you can lose your job over a single statement.

But if I were your Principal and an Indian parent called up about this, I'd wonder why you use the term 'politically correct'? I'd be careful to not use that phrase because it could be misinterpreted. As you say, the phrase Indian giver gives offense. It's a derogatory phrase. Being rude to Indians has nothing to do with 'political correctness'. Rude is rude.

And you didn't intend to me so sincerely apologizing to your students demonstrates that and the moment demonstrates that you're human, you can make a mistake, own up to it, and apologize for it and put it to right.

That moment shows your students that you're more than a teacher in the front of the room - it shows them your humanity and your caring. It also models appropriate behavior for them - it's a great example of what they should do when they make a mistake. Own up to it, apologize for it and put it to right.

I use a phrase 'gyp in line' and try hard not to - one reason being the kids have no idea what it means - and the other that I came to realize it refers to gypsies - who have never done anything to me or anyone I know so why malign them by saying 'gyp in line' because that phrase was meant to suggest that gypsies do something like stepping in front of other people. I have no gypsy parents or gypsy students but why use such phrases - I don't see them as politically incorrect, I just see them as casually rude and potentially hurtful and setting a bad example for my students.

Things happen - via Google I went to what had been a perfectly appropriate website on our video projector - and one I had used for years - this time it came up with a picture of a woman half-clothed instead of an linguist about to delinate the evolution of the English language from Indo-European.

Where did the website on Central European ancient languages go?? I apologized profusely and was genuinely embarrassed but even the girls were more interested in seeing the new website with the half-clothed woman than they were in the evolution of the English language.

> > I used the term "Indian giver" in front of the students. As > soon as I came out, I realized that it was an offensive > term (I'd never used the term before, although I have heard > it). I apologized to the students and explained that I > hadn't thought about what I was saying in depth and hadn't > meant to use offensive language. Is there anything else I > should have done, or done differently? Besides not saying > it. > > Could I lose my job?

Jun 15, 2013

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Some Non PC Advice I agree with Granjero's response. If nobody has complained, forget it. It's an idiom from the past that has perhaps seen its day. Don't use it again, but don't beat yourself up over it. I wouldn't apologize or mention it again in front of the class, and if there has been a complaint, deal with the complainant in an office or somewhere away from the...See More

Jun 15, 2013

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