ending the "r-word"

[endtheword]

hi everyone -

i'm doing some work with Special Olympics on their "Spread the Word to End the Word" campaign, devoted to ofstering a greater awareness of the inappropriate use of the r-word (or "retard"), to generally make people stop and think about their hurtful use of the word and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.

we've already gotten hundreds of schools to participate, and gotten almost 47,000 people to make their pledges on the r-word site.

have you guys heard of the campaign? what do you do when you hear the "r-word" used in school? any stories to share?

[Brit]

I don't have any stories except for this:

when I saw the "r-word", I thought the post was going to be about REPORTS, which I just finished (ended) today.

[Boxcar]

I haven't heard of this specific campaign, but I am familiar with the movement.

I'll come back tommorrow and explain the approach I use with students. Right now, it is a bit late. I've still got a list of things I need to do in the eleventh hour so to speak. I just wanted to let you that I saw the post and will be back with "part 2".

[teachercbelle]

I tend to run a pretty tight ship, and I don't allow the "r-word" around me at all. My students know it's past rude, and they know I get after them or anyone else who uses it. I tend to reward my kids when they get after their peers for using it. That's when you know you made a difference.

[Boxcar]

To be honest, I don't heard my kids use the word "retarded" very often at all. My class is more likely to say something is "dumb" or "stupid".

Because my students are very young, I may take a different approach than teachers of older students. Simply saying "I won't allow it. It is against the rules." doesn't work. If I took away privliages or sent the child to the corner, it teaches nothing.

My students hear a lot about differences, similarities, and acceptance on a regular basis. Using the recommendations of NAEYC's Anti-Bias Curriculm, the students regularly learn about themselves and others.

Instead of "That isn't nice." or "We're all really the same.", we discuss that people are different. That everyone is different. I fall back onto Gardner's Multiple Intellgences. Not all people are good at the same thing. Some people are good at math. Other people really know how to be great listeners. We all have special talents, skills, and smarts. This is one way we are similiar to those around us. Another way is how we sometimes need help. One child might need help finding his name on the attendance board. He might in turn be able to help another student feel better about seperating from her parent or show her how to mix blue and red paint.

I try to have open discussions and really encourage understanding rather than rote teaching the accepted social beliefs. This is important becuase my students are very young. Older children may not need this much guidence. They've heard it before and need reminders.

This is something about which I feel strongly. Disablity shouldn't just be a topic discussed one week out of the year. Just as children need to be made aware of different races, ethnicities, belief systems, family types, and languages in a way that is not a tourist approach, they also need to learn about disability in a respectful manner.

[sped-teacher]

Have been allowing my students to be "buddies" or "peer mentors" with our ID kids. My students have assisted with the responsibilities of being chaperons for field trips, being a "behavior buddy" for students that are acting out, and creating basketball teams for everyone to play on.

[endtheword]

This is fantastic feedback, guys, I really appreciate you sharing.

Have been allowing my students to be "buddies" or "peer mentors" with our ID kids. My students have assisted with the responsibilities of being chaperons for field trips, being a "behavior buddy" for students that are acting out, and creating basketball teams for everyone to play on.

This is a great idea. This encourages acceptance and inclusion, which are two of the most important issues when helping foster a healthy respectful, environment.

Anyone have any other tips or strategies to share?