Teacher reveals list of words that are banned in their classroom and sparks controversy
Kit Roberts
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images / X/@hearts4zaniyahh
If there's one thing which never changes, it's that each generation despairs the one that follows it.
But one teacher has sparked a discussion online after posting a list of words that are 'banned' from use in her classroom.
The list includes many words and phrases which are commonly used on social media, with the teacher explaining why she had decided to ban these words from her classroom.
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It read: "There are many ways to articulate what you need to say without using slang. Please know that using slang in an academic setting can diminish your capability to become a successful writer."
It added: "The gibberish some of you choose to use is improper English and sometimes inappropriate for an academic setting."
Some examples included 'on my momma', 'bruh', 'you ate that up', 'gang gang', 'it's giving' and 'skee-yee'.
And it's fair to say that people have a lot of thoughts about the debate.
Many people criticised the teacher for the list, pointing out that rather than banning the words outright it's better to help people understand when it is and isn't appropriate to use slang.
One wrote: "Banning slang sounds really stupid to me. They’re supposed to learn to code switch between daily speech, formal, and informal writing."
Another posted: "Teach them to write correctly, but you’re not going to get them to stop using slang. Banning slurs and vulgarity, sure. It’s not appropriate. But a lot of this is picking a battle she’s going to lose repeatedly."
But others were more supportive, with one posting: "I actually think it’s smart because they’ll be forced to think about what they’re saying and be more creative especially if she is teaching them new word/definitions."
Some people also pointed out that if the teacher wanted to stop the students using that language there was a far effective way to do that.
One wrote: "If you ban slang, how can you mortify your students to the marrow of their bones by using it?"
A second suggested: "The easiest way to ban this language from your classroom is to use it."
There were also some concerns that although the words on the list had spread on social media, much of the language on social media has itself appeared to have been derived from African American Vernacular English (AAVE).
One person wrote: "I think what people are annoyed with is that that list seems almost surgically targeted at AAVE or phrases derived from it."
Many suggested that the emphasis should more on teaching students the formal scenarios it's not appropriate to use slang, rather than dismissing it outright as 'gibberish'.