Dealing with Vulgar Language in Teenagers

I have taught high school for a number of years. When I teach, my high school students have often used “vulgar” words in their speech. Meaning, they use “common” words, or words that are spoken by the regular, common folk.

Language, to me, is an art. One can say so much while saying so little.

The word “language” comes from the Latin word for “tongue” so when we speak in “tongues” we are speaking various languages.

The study of languages and the words in those languages is etymology. Where words come from is more interesting than the words themselves.

I never let it bother me when I hear teens use vulgar words. I am not a language sheriff. However, I do like to teach. So, when a student says something like, “shit,” I take it as a teaching moment and say, “Where? I don’t smell it.” The offending student, and others, find great humor in my comment, and the whole atmosphere in the classroom changes to a positive one.

After a few remarks like the one just cited, students rarely use the term, as they get no shocking response from me. In addition, sometimes I respond by using various synonyms for the word: feces, excrement, waste, stool. I make my voice sound like “Johnny 5” on that movie of some 20 years ago. Or maybe I will enumerate a variety of translated words that mean the same thing in many other languages: merde, scheissen, mierda, … and so forth.

I find that these types of things provide a learning opportunity while defusing the possible reason for the epithet. Or, I might remark that the word is fun to say. After all, some words are just fun to say.

I can speak, read, or write about 20 languages, I have heard more than my share of “swear” words in quite a few languages. There are only two things that bother me: first, when I am convinced that a particular student’s vocabulary is greater than about one-fourth vulgar words. Second, I also find it a problem if a student uses vulgar language in a disrespectful manner to me as a teacher or regarding my instruction.

Of course, I don’t like it if a student verbally attacks another student, and I will intervene properly for that. I can take a lot, as I have six children (and seven grandchildren) of my own. But I do not tolerate any and all things. There is a limit and a line not to be crossed. This is true in the real world, too. As our teens mature, most (but not all) will learn that and will be able to discipline themselves.