I work at a Columbus City School that has students ages kindergarten to sixth grade. Every Tuesday and Thursday I pick up six first graders and walk them across the street to their after care. During this time I hear some of the most interesting and somewhat appalling things in the hallway. I recently heard an older student using extremely profane language, moments later one of the first graders with me repeated it all. This really got me thinking, is this what elementary school was like when I was there?
I came across this article http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44779-2005Apr11.html that talks about teachers who try to put a stop to it and administration who doesn't help. It frustrated me to hear that administrators feel that there are bigger issues they should be dealing with. I don't believe that profanity is the biggest issue at hand but it is an issue. There is no place in class for profanity and no reason for it. I don't believe administrators should make it their top priority but it shouldn't be swept under the rug either.
I have also experienced a similar situation to yours! It is so frustrating that nothing is being done. I've also heard kids (like really young kids) cuss in front of their parents and the parents do nothing about it. I could not believe it. Like you said, the school system has other matters to worry about but I think this issue also needs to be addressed.
ReplyDeleteI think that children are growing up way to fast in general. There childhood is being shortened and their creativity is being taken away from them. There are parts of me that think a little part of this comes from schools not treating kids like kids, for example schools are giving first grades long tests just like eighth grades. Just the focus on tests in general in my opinion can have a profound on children.
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