Kids who curse in a frum school

amother ↓

Sun, Feb 20 2011, 10:48 am

For a 1st grade class, what do you think of this approach to children who curse:

When the teacher knows who cursed, she tells the other children not to talk to that child for the rest of the day.

gryp

Sun, Feb 20 2011, 11:12 am

No, that's horrible.

Kids who curse usually say they heard it from their Dad when driving. All you need to tell them is that it is a not nice word and nice kids like them use nice words.

Isramom8 ↓

Sun, Feb 20 2011, 12:08 pm

A punishment should involve the child who did wrong, not the child's classmates. Classmates should be encouraged to all be friends, and not turned against one another.

↑ amother ↓

Sun, Feb 20 2011, 12:15 pm

Isramom8 wrote:

A punishment should involve the child who did wrong, not the child's classmates. Classmates should be encouraged to all be friends, and not turned against one another.

I agree with this in theory, but imagine a scenario with a handful of kids where one curses at least every other day, and is teaching these terrible words to the other kids. And coming up with new ones, not to mention rude finger gestures. How DO you handle it?

↑ Isramom8 ↓

Sun, Feb 20 2011, 12:18 pm

Maybe have the child sit in front of the principal every day for fifteen minutes and repeat all his curse words and gestures while the principal stares him down.

PinkFridge

Sun, Feb 20 2011, 1:09 pm

amother wrote:

Isramom8 wrote:

A punishment should involve the child who did wrong, not the child's classmates. Classmates should be encouraged to all be friends, and not turned against one another.

Does the school have a counselor on staff or on call?

↑ Isramom8 ↓

Sun, Feb 20 2011, 1:13 pm

Good point, PinkFridge. The child may need to be evaluated for ADHD or maybe his home situation is problematic, etc.

↑ amother

Sun, Feb 20 2011, 2:21 pm

Isramom8 wrote:

Good point, PinkFridge. The child may need to be evaluated for ADHD or maybe his home situation is problematic, etc.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I didn't mean one child was the problem. I meant at least every other day, at least one child says a curse word. It's a problem that needs to be stopped urgently, before it becomes second-nature, if it hasn't already. Sending them to the principal's office for a slap on the wrist has done nothing. Is social isolation really so terrible? This way at least the other children will think twice before the rest of the class turns on him.

↑ Isramom8

Sun, Feb 20 2011, 2:27 pm

If it's a bunch of kids, then the teacher should implement a fun and educational project about appropriate speech, with sticker type rewards for each child who goes a whole day or lesson speaking only appropriately. They should decorate the classroom with slogans and sing a theme song and be told stories about clean speech.

imasinger

Sun, Feb 20 2011, 2:44 pm

Isramom8 wrote:

Fantastic idea! And a whole lot more effective than attempting to get a class to ostracize.

Geotherm

Wed, May 04 2011, 6:50 am

It depends on the age. I have a friend who informed the class that "we don't use these words" and then wrote them on toilet paper and had the class flush them down the toilet. She never heard them again. They were preschool, though.

I think the kids just don't get what the big deal is. Have you tried educating them on what the words mean and why they're offensive?

maofboys

Wed, May 04 2011, 7:01 am

Isramom8 wrote:

Maybe have the child sit in front of the principal every day for fifteen minutes and repeat all his curse words and gestures while the principal stares him down.

I don't think this is an appropriate punishment either. Why would you have the kids repeat the words over again? the point is to get him to stop saying them. just to embarrass him. If he can't act appropriately in class then he can't be in class. sit outside or in the office and do work by himself. then talk to him when the other kids have recess about protecting his mouth and how important words are and how they can be used for good and bad.... I think by first grade he should get it, it may not stop right away but if the teacher shows some interest in the kids and not just write him off as a bad kid he will stop.

saraleah2010

Wed, May 04 2011, 7:03 am

I agree with focusing on positivity of clean speech. Why not prizes for the WHOLE class (marbles that will earn them a pizza party, or similar) for good behaviour including clean speech??