I Swear I do Not Swear

For anyone that knows me, this title is definitely about me.  I swear.  I actually swear a lot.  I amaze myself that I have never slipped while teaching, because once I am off duty, my mouth has a mind of it’s own.  I don’t mean to swear that much, and technically I don’t think it is all my fault.  For the past thirteen summers I have worked special events for Budweiser.  It has been an amazing job, and I am going to really miss it.  At that job, I am around a bunch of dudes that just sit around and swear.  That is in their contract I think, that is how much they do it. Therefore I blame them for being bad influences.

Swearing has once again reared it’s ugly head in my fourth grade class again.  I have a group of about three of four boys, and if you have read some of my previous blogs, yes it is the same boys, who think they are cool because they swear.  Every chance they get, whether it be at lunch, recess, or anywhere else away from me, they swear.  I had one that got caught by my sub on Wednesday sticking up his middle finger, and mouthing “FU” to a fellow classmate.  I couldn’t believe it.  I couldn’t believe that he thinks that this type of behavior is the least bit acceptable.

I was too scared to swear when I was younger, because I knew the repercussions that would happen at home if I did.  I didn’t want any part of that.  I had a class meeting yesterday and talked about that very thing.  I then polled the class to see what their parents would do if I had them come to school and learn that their child swore.  I had three of those same boys get a look on their face and say right away that their moms would slap them.  My next question to me was very obvious…then why would you still do that, knowing the consequences of it?  The problem is they think they are sneaky, but they are not!  They continuously get caught.  My policy is if you swear, you get to call your parents and you get to tell them what you said.  They also know this.  Yet they still continue to do it!  I almost don’t feel sorry for them if they do get that consequence at home.  If I knew that was coming, I would think that I would have the sense not to do it!

I get they are young, and to them swearing makes them cool.  It makes them tough, and feel older than they are.  The biggest problem I have with this is they have recess with first and second graders.  These little guys look up to them, so when they hear the older kids do it, they think it is okay.  I have told my wife that I never want my kids riding the bus because of this very topic.  Kids on the bus talk so inappropriately it’s ridiculous.  I guess the only thing I can do is to keep reminding them, and keep trying to explain to them why it just isn’t worth it.  Hopefully one day it will sink in!