Is stupid a bad word?

[Wallo Tweed]

My friend told me that he had his granddaughter for the weekend, and somewhere in a conversation he used the word stupid. He wasn't directing it at her, but she told him that her first grade teacher said that stupid was a bad word and they were not allowed to use it. I know there are educators on this forum. Is this the policy nowadays?

 

[Ironwolf]

Manipulate the language and you manipulate the thought process.

 

[Slow Reflexes]

It's easier to tell kids a word is forbidden than to make them think about whether it's appropriate or hurtful.

 

[uriah1]

I was scolded when I was a kid for using "stupid" and "shut up"


...

 

[Chud]

Teach kids that a word is bad to use and they'll simply use another one. Teach them why it's bad and...most likely they'll still use that one AND the other one. Kids can be cruel while learning about where they stand in the pecking order of life.

 

[goonie]

A bad word? Don't be stupid.

 

[purpletele]

I was taught that stupid, like "shut up" was rude and disrespectful. It's not so much a curse word as it is just an improper thing to say.

The teacher would have gotten more mileage if they would have explained WHY you shouldn't say a word.

 

[urizen]

It is typically used as a pejorative intended to demean another's intelligence, another's efforts, and/or another's actions. Moronic is worse, and idiotic is even worse than that.

If she's in 1st grade, the use of the adjective "bad" is probably the teacher's attempt to convey the idea that the word is inappropriate and insulting in an age-appropriate way as a means of dissuading kids from hurting each other's feelings (or worse).

 

[Metacaster]

Stupid is as stupid does

 

[Cat MacKinnon]

It is typically used as a pejorative intended to demean another's intelligence, another's efforts, and/or another's actions. Moronic is worse, and idiotic is even worse than that.

If she's in 1st grade, the use of the adjective "bad" is probably the teacher's attempt to convey the idea that the word is inappropriate and insulting in an age-appropriate way as a means of dissuading kids from hurting each other's feelings (or worse).

this is what i'd assume to be the case. sometimes it's hard for teachers to get certain concepts across to little kids, so they have to get a little creative with it to make their point. of course the kids will figure out soon enough that stupid isn't a "bad word" per say, but at that age it's probably kind of difficult to get across the concept of "being rude". i remember being told similar things when i was little, and my daughter's teachers did the same things.

 

[TheHoneyMonster]

No word is *bad* or *offensive* if used properly (except racial slurs used in a derogatory fashion)

 

[jkingma]

When son #1 was about 3 years old we were driving down the road and someone pulled out in front of me and I almost t-boned them. I just instinctively yelled out "You stupid #$%hole!"

Son #1 then said "Dad..... don't say 'stupid' again".

 

[BigDaddyLH]

First grade? Perhaps that's too young to make distinctions in word use. I'm sure there are better words she could be learning.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

No word is *bad* or *offensive* if used properly (except racial slurs used in a derogatory fashion)

I catch my kids calling each other stupid, and much worse, all the time. I tell them not to be it and I hear, "I was calling ... um ... this cookie stupid".

 

[purpletele]

It is typically used as a pejorative intended to demean another's intelligence, another's efforts, and/or another's actions. Moronic is worse, and idiotic is even worse than that.

If she's in 1st grade, the use of the adjective "bad" is probably the teacher's attempt to convey the idea that the word is inappropriate and insulting in an age-appropriate way as a means of dissuading kids from hurting each other's feelings (or worse).

That was very well said.

 

[slauson slim]

"I was scolded when I was a kid for using "stupid" and "shut up""

Me too, by my mother......

 

[PennyroyalFrog]

I used the word "stupid" in front of my 6 year old nephew and 4 year old niece, and my brother told me not to use that word. So I asked what adjective do you use to describe something that's... well... stupid. He replied "dumb." To which I replied "dumb" is more offensive as it's a pejorative belittling people who can't speak.

 

[Justinvs]

Manipulate the language and you manipulate the thought process.

+1

New Speak and Double Think.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

+1

New Speak and Double Think.

In first grade? Who's the teacher, Big Brother?

 

[sonserve]

"Stupid is as stupid does sir'