Would this bother you? Kids / middle school

[sugarbear1]

My DS is in 7th grade. His science homework last night was to listen to a podcast that was about 45 minutes long. It was actually really interesting -- we listened to it together -- but several times the hosts used pretty colorful language (fuck and shit, on repeat). I swear at home and DS and I have plenty of conversations about audience, time, and place. But I still think it's weird that the teacher sent it out. I am guessing she did not listen to the whole thing.

**Full disclosure, I'm a teacher and I know how hard it is to find resources when you're behind on other work. I show a video of Chris Rock talking about redlining and it has "fuck" in it, but I send an email to parents first.

I'm not going to say anything to the teacher (or god forbid, admin). I did text my exH who works at the school (but is neither admin nor teacher), moreso to chuckle about it. I just wondered if it would actually bother parents. I really like her and don't want her to catch heat for it, but I do kind of think it would be good for my exH to nudge her and give her a heads up.

ETA: I sent a very non-complain-y email and will report back if I hear from her. I don't expect to, which is fine. I really do hope she is a) not catching heat and b) finding a different source for her next class.

[gretchenindisguise]

It wouldn't bother me but I would be surprised the teacher didn't send out a cya message warning of the colorful language along with the assignment.

Kids hear worse every day at lunch I'm sure.

[sugarbear1]

Jan 30, 2024 11:55:45 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

It wouldn't bother me but I would be surprised the teacher didn't send out a cya message warning of the colorful language along with the assignment.

Kids hear worse every day at lunch I'm sure.

Oh for sure. My kids hears worse at my dinner table, but I assume that's atypical.

[osulori]

Not me necessarily, but we approach swearing much like you do with your son so it's not as big of a deal to him/us. I can 100% see how other parents would be perturbed though and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if the teacher gets calls/emails about it.

[macmars45]

I'd send a quick email to ask if she was aware that there was colorful language in the podcast she assigned to her students. I'd guess it was probably an accident or she would've let parents know or chosen something different.

[penelope]

I'd probably raise an eyebrow and comment to H afterwards (with a chuckle) that obviously the teacher didn't listen to the entire thing before assigning it, but I wouldn't be upset or contact them or raise a stink. Please note, H is in construction, swears like a sailor and I'm no angel when it comes to language either.

Agreed with gretchenindisguise, they hear and say worse during lunch every day

[wildrice]

Jan 30, 2024 11:54:05 GMT -5 sugarbear1 said:

**Full disclosure, I'm a teacher and I know how hard it is to find resources when you're behind on other work. I show a video of Chris Rock talking about redlining and it has "fuck" in it, but I send an email to parents first.

Not sure about your actual question, but do you JUST show Chris Rock or a video by Code Switch? Here is a link to that video (which also includes a Chris Rock bit at the beginning, I assume the same one) and this video is one of the best explanations of redlining and related problems that I've seen - in case you want to watch/share too!


www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5FBJyqfoLM&t=15s

[sugarbear1]

Jan 30, 2024 11:59:04 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Jan 30, 2024 11:54:05 GMT -5 sugarbear1 said:

**Full disclosure, I'm a teacher and I know how hard it is to find resources when you're behind on other work. I show a video of Chris Rock talking about redlining and it has "fuck" in it, but I send an email to parents first.

Not sure about your actual question, but do you JUST show Chris Rock or a video by Code Switch? Here is a link to that video (which also includes a Chris Rock bit at the beginning, I assume the same one) and this video is one of the best explanations of redlining and related problems that I've seen - in case you want to watch/share too!


www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5FBJyqfoLM&t=15s

This is the one I show! 

[somersault72]

No but A. I use fuck all the time and B. my kid has ridden the bus for many years, so he's heard the worst of the worst really. There are parents in our district that would be clutching their pearls very tightly and having a fit I'm sure though. Probably the same group that are happy the school board gave the OK to arm teachers.

[devonpow]

This is so relevant right now because DS1 is in 6th grade and there was just a big blow up because his ELA teacher posted a link in canvas to a short story she hasn’t fully read (there were like 30 short stories and the kids had to select a few from a variety of genres - so not all kids read it). Turns out the story including a few F bombs plus a sex scene between two men. A parent read it and went to the superintendent and there had to be letters of apology sent and the guidance counselor coming in to the class and etc. I thought it was a total overreaction and was upset the teacher got in trouble. I was reading way worse stuff much younger, and I’m not one to bat an eye over what my kid reads. He certainly knows swear words and he knows about sex etc. My kid read the story and when I asked him about it it turns out he has now discovered you can have sex in a car and that was new information for him, lol

So I think what this particular parent did was a complete overreaction, But, I also don’t see anything wrong with a friendly email to the teacher saying “I noticed there was some bad language in XYZ. It may be good to note things are explicit just in case” or something.

[waverly]

I would give the teacher a heads up. In the future, she may want to avoid text that includes swear words just because I know one parent out there somewhere will overreact.

[plutosmoon]

It would bother me, but only because my DD (11) is super bothered by swear words. She'd be so focused on the language, she would have trouble getting anything else out of it. I wouldn't contact the teacher or make any sort of stink, but DD would certainly bring it up.

[elefun]

I'd send an email just so she's aware but not out of concern for my child

[wildrice]

Jan 30, 2024 12:00:37 GMT -5 sugarbear1 said:

Jan 30, 2024 11:59:04 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Not sure about your actual question, but do you JUST show Chris Rock or a video by Code Switch? Here is a link to that video (which also includes a Chris Rock bit at the beginning, I assume the same one) and this video is one of the best explanations of redlining and related problems that I've seen - in case you want to watch/share too!


www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5FBJyqfoLM&t=15s

This is the one I show! 

I'm so glad your kids are getting exposed to this at their age! We show it to new hires every month and it often brings up discussions around aspects that they are learning for the first time, as adults.

[Jalapeñomel]

I'm a pretty breezy parent and teacher, but this is inappropriate, especially in 7th grade.

It would annoy me that the teacher didn't screen it ahead of time and/or give a warning about language to parents.

[CrazyLucky]

I would give a heads up to the teacher. We don't talk like that in my family, but I recognize that the kids hear it from their friends and other kids. I think the teacher should warn the parents.

[eb777888]

I would be shocked by this, lol. I would not care at all, definitely wouldn't say anything, but think to myself "she's gonna hear about this" because parents here would be up in arms.

[whattheheck]

It would annoy me because I feel like it’s a slippery slope between being appropriate for homework and being appropriate for in school. Meaning if it’s ok language for assigned homework then why isn’t it okay for in school? That being said - I would simply roll my eyes and move on. Because it’s also a fine line between modeling appropriate language and censorship. Teachers can’t win.

[abs]

Yeah I would probably say something. They hear and see inappropriate things in school all day long but it feels different with assigned homework. I would just want the teacher aware as it seems obvious she didn’t watch the whole thing. I

[cmeon]

It wouldn't bother me in the slightest, but my kids have definitely heard worse (they lived through a trump presidency, i wouldnt be shocked if fuck was my most spoken word during those years).

And I've spent enough time with 7th graders to know that they are not fragile creatures.

[eb777888]

Jan 30, 2024 12:45:47 GMT -5 abs said:

Yeah I would probably say something. They hear and see inappropriate things in school all day long but it feels different with assigned homework. I would just want the teacher aware as it seems obvious she didn’t watch the whole thing. I

Yeah, while I wouldn't say anything the argument that they hear worse from their peers doesn't really compute for me. This isn't their peers we're talking about. 

[mofongo]

Jan 30, 2024 12:36:49 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

I would be shocked by this, lol. I would not care at all, definitely wouldn't say anything, but think to myself "she's gonna hear about this" because parents here would be up in arms.

Me too! I know a lot of still pretty immature 7th graders who would not be ready to handle this, and really it should be at the parents discretion. I’d let her knows as well for the same reason. She is GONNA hear! Lol

[sugarbear1]

Ok, so I think I will email her, but I really do NOT want to come across as complain-y. I teach 7th grade and I just asked my students what their parents would do. Most said they would probably be really upset. How's this?

Hi [Teacher],
Just wanted to send a heads up that the podcast DS listened to for homework had some pretty colorful language in it. I don't actually care, but some other parents might! Thanks, [Sugarbear]


(Also, LOL. I don't get many parent emails any more, but certainly have had my share of complaints. I am really sensitive to coming across as complain-y.)

[JayhawkGirl]

Bother me? No. But I’d assume it would bother someone and hope they don’t cause trouble for the teacher.

[beerlover]

sugarbear1, I'm also very sensitive to coming across as complain-y (because I get a ton of rude, complainy emails from students and parents lol) and I think your email sounds fine. I think it's good to give her a heads up so that she is prepared for any complaints, and so she doesn't use that podcast in the future.

[flygirl]

It wouldn’t bother me, but H would be super pissed because it might hurt his delicate ears.

[fn2187]

This is normal where I live. We’d have to move if it bothered us because 7th graders here are exposed to stuff like that constantly. I personally don’t like using curse words but I don’t have an issue with my kid being exposed to it. There’s a cultural aspect to it.

[Roc A Bee]

My DH teaches HS and is suppose to let parents know if he is showing a PG-13 movie. So he would also avoid podcasts or literature with those words. I’m surprised it was sent out.

We are breezy with language and I curse plenty in front of the kids, but would prob raise an eyebrow to it being included in an assignment. There are lots of families more conservative than I am when it comes to language.

[tamarindy]

Since the teacher either knew the language was there and didn’t have any kind of warning for students/parents (poor judgement), or they didn’t listen to it and assigned it anyway (worse, IMO), I would definitely say something. As a teacher, if I made either of those decisions I would expect to hear feedback of some sort. Though, I honestly would never do either of these.

[Jalapeñomel]

Just because kids hear it in the cafeteria or bus doesn't mean a teacher should be assigning 11/12 year olds homework work that says fuck a hundred times. This has nothing to do with the fragility of children or our society. There is an appropriateness to what should and should not be done.


I also find it hard to believe that many of you think that there is nothing wrong with this!