Now we’re banning Dictionaries in School?
January 27th, 2010I just came across this article from The Guardian, that talks about how certain schools in the Southern California area in the United States are banning dictionaries because they have a definition for oral sex.
Am I the only one who thinks this is a little over the top?
If our children are smart enough to go to a dictionary and look up a word that they don’t understand, I should think that’s a good thing! It’s far better than the alternative of going to the internet, or feeling too afraid to talk to a trusted adult.
I see examples more and more of parents not explaining all the ins and outs of life and sex and everything in between. But with children becoming more exposed to this {being life/love/sex/etc} at a younger age as we advance technologically, this is something we cannot sweep under the rug. TV, texting, computers, and media have dramatically changed how fast young people are maturing these days.
I feel that I was lucky in the way that I felt comfortable enough to ask my mother anything. When I was in grade seven, a boy called another boy a dildo. I had never heard the term, so that day when I came home I asked my mum what it was. And instead of freaking out, or saying I was too young, or making complaints against the school, she just told me. Matter of fact.
Another time I was listening to Alanis Morissette who was very popular at the time with Jagged Little Pill being played all over the radio’s and I heard the phrase, “wine, dine and 69″ or whatever it is. So once again, I asked my mum what “69′”ing meant and she told me.
I think that if the child is asking the question, then he or she is ready to hear the answer.
What do you think?
January 27th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
I think parents need to focus on what the actual question is before freaking out. “What is a dildo?” Answer should simply be, “A sex toy.” Unless they continue to ask further questions, I say move on!
And yeah I would rather a child get an unbiased, educated description of oral sex rather than who knows what on the web or from other kids at school.
Cristina´s last blog ..A Giant iPhone Was Released
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January 27th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
“Teacher! I don’t know what this word means.”
“Neither do I! Let’s try Google…”
Louise´s last blog ..Con
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lolololol!
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January 28th, 2010 at 8:25 am
^ Lol!
Denying knowledge is always a bad thing. Besides, schools in SoCal have bigger fish to fry. Like gang violence and teen pregnancy. Taking a dictionary out of the mix will not solve anything.
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January 28th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Haha, this is hilarious! I don’t get why people are so afraid of sex, I couldn’t agree with you more.
I remember my cousin telling me what a dildo was, I think I was round 10 and she 13-14. We were actually sitting in the back of my grandmothers car and reading a magazine I think, and there the word dildo was. So I asked her and she said “it’s a toy penis”, I can imagine she probably was a little embarrassed with our grandmother in the car, lol :P
Lisa´s last blog ..Sleep tight
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January 29th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
I completely agree. I remember seeing this and all I could think was that it’s totally ridiculous. And really, wouldn’t you rather the kids look things up in a dictionary then go on the internet and search for “sex”???
Kaylee´s last blog ..Sleepyhead experiment
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January 31st, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Wow. How strange.
I took your advice and joined ravelry! My username on there is Bearily. I need to update it with pictures of all the things I’ve made so far! I’m having sooo much fun!
Anywho, I’ve been meaning to check in with you for a while now, but I keep getting busy! Gah! ^_^ But that’s a good thing. Maybe I’ll fit a couple of hours just for checking blogs into my weekly schedule. That would work.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 7:33 am
OMG I jsut read this post of yours (yes I am slow). I want you to know that despite this area being 15 min drive from me – we are not all like that. You gotta understand that area. A lot of people there are rich & think they own the world. I could go on & on but it is an area I refuse to move to.
Jessica´s last blog ..I did it!!
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February 3rd, 2010 at 2:16 pm
That’s really stupid. Kids are kids – they will look up dirty words in the dictionary, I know I did.
If they knew enough to look it up, they probably knew what it meant in the first place and just wanted to see the technical definition.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 7:12 pm
I think banning dictionaries are a bit too much. I would rather kids looking up the dictionary instead of surfing the Internet to look for an answer.
Comparing the 2 options, the book would be a safer bet, a lot safer in fact. At least it doesn’t comes with graphical illustrations. I’m pretty sure Google results tend to give some images search results as well.
Dayna´s last blog ..My pretties from Soap n Sorbet
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February 4th, 2010 at 11:43 am
I think if the child is asking the question then society is saying they need to know the answer. If the Society of Children called a School has this sort of vocabulary flying around then the child needs to know to not be left behind in their integration into modern society.
Why people, or specifically parents, would be using this vocabulary around children at such a young age I have no idea.
At least you turned out alright enough to question the incident and its effects on children as opposed to the ignorant chav that thrashes around with colourful metaphors because they think that that sort of language doesn’t have negative repercussions.
Sorry went on a little bit there!
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