There is a place where human nature is brought out in its most natural form. Where strange, dirty, and colorful creatures run with wild abandon. Where play-doh, oh the horror, is consumed RAW! This dreadful jungle is called 2nd Grade!!! (dun dun dun) And it only gets worse.
Now these foul beasts have potty mouths. Serious potty mouths. "Bad words" have progressed from "butt" and "stupid head" to "da_" and sh_"... You fill in the blanks.
I am taking a Teacher Assistant class at my high school. So, I packed my purse, got into my car, and drove to the elementary school, expecting to see happy, angelic faces smiling up at me.
What I saw...was a fiasco. Block stealers, crayon snatchers, and potty mouths were rampant. Some of them even had cell phones. Did I know my numbers by then? Anyways, I heard one little red headed boy cussing like a sailor. I just wonder how we got to that point.
I suppose it is media influence. There's even the occasional curse word on Disney Channel and Nickelodean.
Even though I'm sure teenagers were shocked by our casual use of the "butt" word way back when, I was just wondering if anyone is worried about our future.
That 2nd Grader said WHAT?
By Kiokakosh - Posted on February 25th, 2008
Tagged: The Elementary School Jungle
I am very worried. I am in high school so naturally I know where the stuff comes from, the older siblings.*laughs* really I think there is a lot of influence to it, not just one source. I believe, it's the world as a whole, the media, lack of complete parenting or maybe lack of punishments in all. Teachers are not allowed to punish children and parent's aren't punishing children, so kids go on with there life thinking that they can do anything with no consequences.
Of course everyone, including myself, is worried about our future. Kids are growing up way too fast these days and morals just aren't what they used to be. There's just way too much of everything -- too much technology, too much exposure, too much media, and too many bad examples set -- that kids don't know what to do but imitate what they see.
----
"No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it." -- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
In today's world rather we realize it or not, WE are forcing our children to grow up to fast. Children are being rushed through their childhoods on a daily basis. Teenagers begin working sooner, parents buy their kids high-tech stuff made for older people (phones, game console, cars, etc). Children are mini reflects of ourselves.
Everything starts somewhere......Where do you think they got it from?
My friends and I would 'double dog dare' each other to say bad words. But I tell you what, we made sure NO ADULT was around. It was like I dare you to say "sh_" and the daree would quickly and quietly, say "sh_." That was it.
One day I heard a boy in kindergarten call another child "toilet paper." Of course I asked him why and he tells me "well, my dad told me I am not allowed to say a$$wipe." I saw dad and we were talking about it and dad tells me his son heard him use it, but he apologized to his son and said that neither of them were allowed to say that word. The little boy new the job of toilet paper and realized it could be a substitute.
It is amazing how many parents watch smut with there children in the room, insisting that their children are "not pay attention." Like heck they aren't! I have heard some crazy things and when appropriate the parents have been talked too, and almost every time the parent said "oh we were arguing last night or we were watching..., and we did not think they heard it."
Shameless plug
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/almostdone
"A library is a hospital for the mind." Anonymous
I work in a preschool, and it's horrifying some of the things kids bring up there. I've heard four and five year olds say things like "kiss my butt" or worse "kiss my ass" and call other kids a-holes. Many of them need to be told at least daily they're not allowed to play guns at school, and many of the movies and video games they talk about aren't meant for kids. They don't know what they're saying, but they shouldn't be hearing these things to repeat them.
"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."
Kindergarteners watch The Family Guy and all kinds of animated crap that isn't meant for them (though I hesitate to call The Family Guy crap...I love it). Parents just don't pay attention to what their kids are doing and saying. And they sure don't pay attention to what THEY are saying around their kids. And NO ONE pays attention to what they say out in the world, where someone else's kids might hear them. They are immersed in profanity. It doesn't surprise me that kids have pottymouths, when they hear it everywhere they turn.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman