At some point in our discussion of different contexts for certain buzzwords, I remembered an adage I learned in childhood:
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never harm me."
I don't know who taught me that, but I began to wonder why that little saying is taught to children. I think it is so kids do not get their feelings hurt by bullies on the playground or on the bus, and so that they feel empowered to decide not to let someone's words hurt them.
Words only have the power we give them. Language and meaning is socially constructed, and we largely make our own meanings as we interact with one another. I do not think we learn by eliminating certain words, but rather by becomming selective about how to best communicate our meaning. I swear like a sailor in my house, but know I will not come across the way I wish if I do so in a job interview. I think we best serve our students by empowering them with the flexibility to express themselves they way they wish in many contexts. Music, as Bowman mentions, helps develop this responsive adaptability. So, while we may discuss that certain words have no place in the classroom, it is important that we do discuss rather than outlaw.
Again, words only have the power we give them- and someone's insult cannot harm me unless I give them that power.
Hey, if someone calls me a "geek," I'll invite them over for some Star Trek.
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5 comments:
Thank you Allison- this is way I was saying in class- the dialogue needs to occur. Outlawing does nothing.
I'll be there for Star Trek. Patrick Stewart rules!
just wanted to clarify that I don't ban words in my classroom without much discussion. Many students just repeat things they hear in/on the media because they think it's a funny or cool phrase and they don't have a clue that what they're saying may be hurtful or offensive to another race/gender/etc.
Words are powerful. How we call something, how we name something is an important process to understand. Yes, something can't hurt you unless you allow it to. I am thinking of this whole thing from the perspective of what I say--not what I hear. I can only control my mouth and my voice.
What you said about "Words only have the power we give them" has been a big issue of mine for the past few days. Who has the right to create a language and a way of expressing ideas? In class today and yesterday we discussed how the word 'gay' used to mean happy, but now it is a conotation for a homosexual individual. When did the meaning change and who has the power to change it? If I could look ahead 30 years from now and see how our language and the meanings we give to words has evolved, would I use the words in the same context? Tough questions that I'm dealing with right now.
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