Days like this....

Van Morrison had a song called "days like this." Sometimes when I have a less than stellar day it finds its way out of my subconscious and I start singing it in my head to help lighten the mood. I had two kids get in a verbal conflict and one use the n-word all before 8 am. It was one of those days that I really need to sing that song.

  I have said before that teachers serve several roles inside the classroom. The first is to actually educate the subject matter. The second is as a manager, or a peace keeper. It is the second role that most teachers have trouble with. Some classes have an entire mind of their own. You can have a group of kids that just clash personality wise and create havoc for you in your classroom. My first period is a good bunch of kids, but we have several kids that just clash on a personality level. This keeps the tension high sometimes, and make my job as an educator harder. I do what I can to create an atmosphere that is conducive to learning, and try to keep the groups at bay. Sometimes this boils over and becomes something that is hard to control. I had asked first period to work on getting a list of tasks done when a student that is usually not a bad kid walk over and accused the other student (African American) of taking his paper. He then uttered his last words that he would speak in my class for a while when he said "[n-word] please back off." Now obviously I am editing this blog, but he just said it like it was nothing.  This trows off everyone and create a point of contention for people to then talk about and egg on. I have to remove him from class for langauge and then calm down the masses that are choosing sides on whether he should be allowed to use the word or not. Either way between getting him to the office and getting the conversations under control the entire class was a wash.

  His actions though are not unique, we have several kids that feel that they can say the word without repercussions. It is not in a racist capacity because it is really in the way that conveys a familiarity with the person. Most of the time it is not said out of anger towards the other person, instead it mirrors the use in rap lyrics. I think that with rap being as prevalent as it is some kids just think that it is cool to say it. What they don't seem to understand is that it is not one of those words that anyone can say. As a society we have set limits on who can say certain things. Most of the kids that use it do not understand that. It is used in the hall a lot when kids of every color are talking to one another. They view it as a word that you would call your friend when he or she is giving you grief or trying to put one over on you. It does not carry to them the negative implications that it carries when I hear it.

  It does cause a problem. As a campus we have said that any language is not acceptable, but as a society we have condemned it. It is hard to convey that message when we are not sure of the rules ourselves. My personal feeling is that it is not a word anyone should be using. I do not use it, nor do I think that anyone should, and as a school we have said that it is not appropriate to use in the classroom setting. It is a tricky subject.  I had a kid use it in my 7th period the week before. When I told him that he was not to use the word he told me that "I am allowed to use it as I am black, and you cannot be offended." I am all for free speech, but it is getting a little ridiculous when we start branding words as OK for certain people to say and not for others. Where should the line be? I view it as unacceptable language in the classroom. Where do you view the line? What should a teacher do when someone in his or her class uses that word or another word like it? My solution was let the assistant principal sort it out.

Until Tomorrow,
Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.
- Will Durant