Teaching and Naughty Words

To put it briefly, I miss teaching EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I absolutely loved my job and I can not wait to get back to it! Obviously as with any job there were rough parts, but none of them couldn't be forgetten or conquered when compared to the bright spots...the children that I spent each day with. I can't wait to get back to work - the work that I am truly passionate about, love and enjoy!

As a teacher you hear so many wonderful stories from students. About their weekend, their goals for themselves and (yes parents!!!!) you especially hear things that you SHOULD NOT KNOW. Working with first graders there is a strong naivety involved. They are innocent and interested in everything...but one thing I've noticed is how hard they try to be "good" people. Here is a classic example of that:

This conversation that occurred one day in my classroom...between myself, B-man, A-man and the Principal...

B-man: Miss Haskin! Miss Haskin! I need to tell you something!!!!
A-man catches up with B-man whose is standing right in front of me.
Me: Yes, what do you need to tell me.
B-man: A-man said the "s" word.
Me: Which "s" word did he say? (please keep in mind that shut-up and stupid enter into the "bad word" category for most first graders!)
B-man: I can't say it. It's too naughty.
Me: Okay, can you spell it for me?
B-man: I don't know how to spell it.
Me: Okay Bman, can you just try your best?
B-man: Okay. S. H. I. T.
Me (thinking: darn it. This is a bad word.) : Well, Aman, did you really say that word?
A-man shakes his head no. His eyes are about to bulge from their sockets. Fear is apparent.
Bman: (jumping in) Yes he did. We were playing and he said sh*t, and I told him that sh*t's a bad word and he shouldn't say sh*t. And then I told him that I was going to tell Miss Haskin that he said sh*t and that he was going to have to pull his WOW card for saying sh*t and his momma was going to be soooo upset when she found out he said sh*t. Cause its a bad word.
(Principal walks by classroom. I flag her down before she completely passes. After she gets the rundown "bad word, guilty party, tattle tale" she asks in front of the boys if she can take care of this VERY serious matter. Principal takes boys to her office for a "talk" of sorts)

A-man returns ten minutes later. Frazzled and tearful.
B-man returns with Principal behind A-man. He's a MESS.
I ask Principal what happened. Well, apparently she was told the same version of the story from B-man. A-man confessed to saying the word once.

Principal: I told A-man that I didn't want to ever hear that word out of his mouth again and that he was going to need to pull his WOW card. I then turned to B-man and said "B-man, you do realize that A-man said that word once but you've now said it 12 times." He hasn't stopped crying since.

B-man was inconsolable. He could not believe that HE had said such an awful, naughty, horrible word. I call his mother after school ended to prep her for what would be walking off the bus that afternoon. We have a nice laugh knowing that B-man will probably never use that word again...even at 82 he'll still think it is the worst word ever.

I just love children...