To think children shouldn't be swearing in primary school

That’s not applicable to playground swearing amongst dc and not what the op was talking about. It’s not expressive really. It is poor for dc to use this language instead of talking about their feelings. I think it’s you, @pointythings thats missing the point. The op was talking about aggressive swearing and I’m still firmly in the camp of no swearing at school. It’s hardly the same scenario as an adult treading on LEGO! They are utterly different scenarios. I’m assuming you don’t know anyone who swears every other word or you would understand why it’s not acceptable.

Swearing is extremely expressive. It expresses anger and annoyance, and as mentioned in the link I posted (and in many other research journals) it has beneficial effects. It should absolutely be in context and never at people, but someone saying Fuck because they have stepped on a Lego and it hurts is not disrespectful. It helps that person cope with the pain better and expresses their frustration. This is not the same thing as someone getting in your face and swearing at you aggressively - that is verbal abuse. You need to learn to distinguish between the two.

Why is swearing about the person swearing? Surely though for those listening is paramount? Is it just me me me as usual? I hate dc swearing. Its lack of expressive words and certainly lack of respect for others.

My vocabulary is massive. Moreover, I can swear in four different languages. Swearing has a surprising number of benefits, if used in a targeted and sparing way: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/hide-and-seek/201205/hell-yes-the-7-best-reasons-for-swearing

So as long as you aren't effing and jeffing with every other word, and we teach our children when bad language is and isn't appropriate, swearing is pretty good for you and we should all let go of our pearls a bit more.

It’s definitely oik behaviour (your words). It’s a lack of English to accurately reflect feelings or a view.

1. I’m afraid that hackneyed idea that those who swear have a narrower vocabulary has been not only disproved - but it’s been found to be the exact opposite. Link here but there’s hundreds if you have a google. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-swearing-a-sign-of-a-limited-vocabulary
2. have you ever spent time with the proper ‘upper classes’, they swear like troopers!
3. I’d feel uncomfortable working alongside a grown adult who couldn’t deal with a valid word used to express a feeling, so the feeling is mutual.

@Verlaine I think you have not understood that some people would hate to work with others who are swearing all the time. Me for one but many many others would feel uncomfortable.

I know dh would swear along with the staff building bridges on site but I would tell him to stop anything like that at home. It’s definitely oik behaviour (your words). It’s a lack of English to accurately reflect feelings or a view. Some people DH was with swear every other word. It’s gross. Schools should not accept ir and neither should parents do it in dint of dc. Many people adjust their language according to who they are with, hence dh swearing on site. Not acceptable in the office. Or in schools.

If this was my child I would be focusing on the bullying side of it- intimidating my child by swearing at them aggressively.

It's definitely not polite but I was at primary school in the 90s and kids swore all the time, just not in front of their teachers or parents

No one, pupil or teacher, should be swearing at any point, in any nursery or school.🤷‍♀️

@TizerorFizz the snobby/ classist part was saying ‘professional parents’ would never stand for that, thus insinuating it was the ‘oiks’ who would

Swearing in front of children is not acceptable

according to….you. Not me.

@CowboyJoanna all the time. I never swear AT them obviously, and I don’t swear in anger but I do swear a fair amount. I also teach them when and where it’s appropriate to swear and where it’s not. I think a playground of peers not overheard by a teacher is appropriate. Swearing aggressively or in anger at someone is never appropriate.

Doesn't it just...

It doesn't have to be either/ or.

Schools should have no tolerance for any of that.

Yeah we all swear but i bet you dont swear in front of your kids do you?

@Verlaine Swearing in front of children is not acceptable. I suspect DH swore at work, certainly on site, but it’s an inability to express feelings in coherent English - it’s not what I would expect a doctor to do in front of me for example. Or a teacher. So I don’t expect, or want, my dc around people who do this. A sweary atmosphere at work would be awful. I cannot imagine people I worked with in education ever doing this. It’s not snobby. It’s just a decent workplace where everyone’s comfortable. Ditto school.

I think that children should definitely be taught that there's a time and a place. That even if they hear swearing at home or use it with friends, that theres some words you can't use at school etc.

Highly inappropriate IMO and definitely shouldn’t be allowed, regardless of context or situation

I personally don't have an issue with swearing per se.

In your case, I'd have an issue with the aggression. And I'd have an issue with the aggression even if there wasn't swearing. But you can have swearing not directed at anyone and that doesn't particularly bother me.

For example, my DD (year 1) was told by an older child in the playground at school last week "I'm going to cut you". I think that's far worse than if a child swore after they broke something or hurt themselves.

I am not going to accept DC swearing is ok on any level. I doubt many professional parents would want this in school or many others. It’s not acceptable

beautiful bit of snobby classism there @TizerorFizz. Sorry to disappoint but I’m a very senior professional and swear a lot. As do most colleagues from CEO down. And clients. 🤷🏼

You’re confusing issues. Would you be fine with this child if he had exactly the same tone and volume, but was saying cabbages? And would you be upset if the boy was swearing quietly to himself!?

@xILikeJamx It is a shame you did not read the OP and understand the context of the thread. It’s really about behaviour policies and what a school does about swearing. Not whether it happens or not.

It’s never acceptable. If someone swore at work. I wouldn’t be including them in meetings with clients. They certainty wouldn’t be doing any overseas work where swearing in some countries is offensive.

The amount of weirdos on this thread saying things along the lines of "I can't believe so many people are ok with swearing in primary schools" is really worrying for the future of this country. Absolutely zero reading comprehension on show.

Just because people know that it happens doesn't mean they endorse it or would accept it in their presence.

I went to 2 different primary schools in different (very middle class) parts of the country in the late 80s-early 90s, and swearing was prevalent in them both. I left the first one to move away around 7 years old, and one of my few memories of that school is having to do 100 lines at lunch time because I called someone a bastard for throwing a snowball that went in my ear.

I never once swore in front of my parents / family / teachers etc and they probably wouldn't believe the words I knew by the time I was 12.

I am not going to accept DC swearing is ok on any level. I doubt many professional parents would want this in school or many others. It’s not acceptable.

I would also question why it’s accepted because a child has sweary parents. School is also about a social education. That’s why kindness, sharing, helping others etc are also considered what dc should learn and valuable. Would we tolerate drug taking, sex at school, drinking and smoking because dc see it at home and parents do it? Or do we maintain standards of behaviour most of us consider suitable for school age dc? Obviously we do and swearing is poor behaviour.

I’m glad the school in this case has it as a punishable offence. Not sure why op didn’t read the behaviour / discipline policy in the first place though.

Derogatory language aimed at others and as common use should be in the schools anti-bullying policy along with possible consequences.