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Secondary education

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Original poster

Should I say shit and piss to my year 10s tomorrow?

29 replies

twinsetandpearls · 26/04/2009 23:02

I am just going over my lessons for tomorrow.

We are looking at poverty and I have some footage of people living on smokey mountain in Manila. The families are literally wading through shit and piss on a daily basis.

I could say wading through excrement - which is what I did last week to my other group.

But was just thinking is there ever space for colourful language to get a point across.

Wanders off for cup of tea/

OP posts:
TheDevilWearsPrimark · 26/04/2009 23:02

oh best thread title for ages

(no advice)

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 26/04/2009 23:04

Hmm, how well do you know this class? I should think there is space for colourful language with sensible 15/16 year olds - but if they are the other kind you are going to get them attempting to use their own colourful language and citing you as precedent.

thisisyesterday · 26/04/2009 23:04

i say yes, you should.

but I am probably wrong and the children will prob tell their parents and some of the parents will probably complain. bah

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 26/04/2009 23:09

lol thisisyesterday.

They are not angels but not awful. I know them as well as you can know a class that you have seen once a week since sept.

Additional factor - I am being observed by a student teacher.

OP posts:
jenwyn · 26/04/2009 23:24

Nope-definitely not.

No matter how well you know the children there will always be one who will report the language you used to someone who will use it against you in some way.

Also it isnt cool to use 'bad' language where there is a possibility of extending the childrens language.

And with a student in the room -Nooooo

SlightlyMadSwineFlu · 26/04/2009 23:28

I think there should be no reason for you not saying this.
But there is. It is the parents. The students won't care - but 1 of them will tell their parents (or they will tell Delilah who will tell Stuart who will tell William who will tell his parents and his parents will tell Jacobs dad who will talk to Rosies mum.....)

You could ask them what they are thinking/seeing and let one of them tell you they are walking through piss and shit

Wonderstuff · 26/04/2009 23:28

I wouldn't. I would be worried about parents complaining and more importantly I think that it would undermine any future attempt to address poor language in class.

Is footage of people wading through shit not shocking enough?

SuziSeis · 26/04/2009 23:30

i wouldn't

as a parent might moan

my daughter would snigger and imo the lesson would degenerate

kids are - well- kids and love that sort of shit stuff

campion · 26/04/2009 23:31

You can but I wouldn't. Apart from anything else, that'll be all they remember of the lesson.
And that student teacher could be traumatised

I used to enjoy saying ' bloody-minded' so that they could say in self-righteous tones ' ooh- that's swearing!' and I could reply ' no, it isn't'.

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 26/04/2009 23:33

Yes I think it is wonderstuff, it is a lesson that I have used for a few years and last year another teacher taught the lesson and did use those words and I can remember being quite shocked and thinking that was risky. She thought I was being quite twee and said she did not consider the words to be swear words. I did not have the footage last year though just the pictures,

I know I am quite twee in my teaching persona and was wondering what others thought.

OP posts:
Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 26/04/2009 23:34

My year 7s gasp when I say William the Bastard.

OP posts:
LadyGlencoraPalliser · 26/04/2009 23:36

TSP - my Year 7 DD was VERY impressed by her history teacher's graphic account of William the Bastard's death. For the first time, she thought history might actually be a bit interesting!

TheFallenMadonna · 26/04/2009 23:38

I wouldn't. But it wouldn't work for me, because I'm more of a correct scientific vocab with a stern look over the top of the specs kind of teacher. It would come our wrong. It would be uncomfortable for me, and would probably make the children snigger rather than be shocked.

TsarChasm · 26/04/2009 23:38

It sounds a bit like your trying too hard to be their age; all 'right on'.

SuziSeis · 26/04/2009 23:39

my dd was having some sort of sex education lesson on friday and the teacher had said 'orgasm'

they had all ROFL ed ( girls grammar school yr 10)

she came home delighed and recounted all followed immediately by 'what is orgasm?'

this from the girl who said a dead slug looked as though it had 'ejaculated' on the bark chippings

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 26/04/2009 23:39

My year 7s were holding a mock trial earlier this year over who should be King of England and one of them shouted in a very sincere voice "I put it to you William that you are a bastard" as the head walked past my open door. The boy was very worried. he was very concerned that the head might not understand his use of the word,

OP posts:
TsarChasm · 26/04/2009 23:41

Is the head called William too then?

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 26/04/2009 23:41

No but that would have been the icing on the cake.

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TheFallenMadonna · 26/04/2009 23:42

We had our departmental review and I was being observed by the deputy head - reproduction with year 7. Activity about factors affecting sperm production and motility. Deputy Head all interested and asking questions of the children.

"Miss, I had to say semen - to Mr H!!!"

pastapestofor6 · 26/04/2009 23:43

think you should say human waste

TheFallenMadonna · 26/04/2009 23:44

And I always particularly enjoy reproduction blockbusters.

"What V is..."

I do close the door for that one...

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 26/04/2009 23:49

My mind went blank once when teaching this lesson and I said wee and poo which did result in sniggers.

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 26/04/2009 23:54

I would stick to excrement. I think you can load that word sufficiently to be shocking. Much more so than wee and poo anyway

NotPlayingAnyMore · 27/04/2009 02:12

Nooo. You might be able to get awa with this with 6th form but my tutors wouldn't even risk this at university level. If you have to think about it this much, don't do it!

thirtypence · 27/04/2009 03:02

Excrement is a great word.