a pet peeve of mine

2 in 1 day! can you believe it? i can't help it when i get inspired!

i was reading Middle School Mayhem and i came across a gem of a post. because this is also a HUGE pet peeve of mine. one that i give detentions for, in fact. i would ask where this comes from but i know all too well because i hear these comments from educated adults as well. i've gone into lecture-mode before and i've resorted to the silent icy stare as well.

people are ignorant. i can't just classify the kids because they hear it all over the place. they think it is "no big deal" to refer to someone's mental capacity or sexual orientation as a shorthand for stupid. it doesn't matter that people get beat up over these and other words.

here is a newsflash. using these words make you look ignorant. they tell me a lot about who you are as a person. they make me think that there is a small step for you, to make some totally fucked up racist statement in your next sentence. i mean, why not? it's all about classifying people that are different. why not keep going?

and i have a confession in all of this. i want to work on programs in my school to teach kids about tolerance. i've read books and websites and magazine articles on it. but thus far i haven't made the leap to talking to the administrators about it. administrators that have been nothing but supportive of me as a new teacher thus far. it's just that i've been burned by too many inner ignorant jerks in the past that look at me crosseyed when i suggest that anyone other than the white, wealthy, heterosexual might possibly be deserving of support.