I like words. All kinds of words, from the lofty to less than acceptable vernacular. Words have meaning, connotations, denotations, tell stories of their own volition. Words elicit control or a feverish pitch, a smorgasbord for the choosing. Words, as I tell my students convey not only meaning, but power.

Hold that thought.

I teach words to power in English class, how the history of words or phrases were (are) used to control, silence, denigrate, subjugate and alienate, how communities are taking back those words and reclaiming their power, why what we say needs more deliberate reflection. Some, are every day simple words, they, their, them, those. But in their simplicity is a tacit complicitness that “others” the people being referenced. Words can be a caress or a solid punch to the gut.

Hold that thought.

Dialogue. Teaching students how to disagree, using respectful language, to get their points across in ways that allow for understanding of both sides of any issue, even when the issues are challenging or when there may not be consensus, how dialogue means an opportunity to learn and grow.

Hold that thought.

I have a dialogue I may or may not ask students to parse. It’s a powerful example of dialogue gone wrong, a spiralling out of control into hurtful language that “others”, ridicules, denigrates, belittles one side of the argument, while centring and solidifying the power structure dynamics of the other side. In brief, a list of suggested educators to follow on Twitter was posted. A number of people inquired as to why there were not more IBPOC on the list. The following is taken from the responses to the request from those who sought to centre themselves and simultaneously to “other” those who were making the original inquiries.

Hold that thought.

To center…

-baffled by this business -not going to change my behaviour -proper response is to laugh at them to scorn -more frantic they become the less serious anyone will take them -speak up to bs -bitch, bitch, moan, moan -manners -making good educators uncomfortable -making a fuss about nothing -multiple laughing gifs -American History X gifs -comparisons to “other marginalized things/people” Celts, xyz, pqr, marginalizing lmn, Australians, gingers, oat milk, almond milk, etc” -terrified to say anything on twitter -#LISTGATE has changed the teacher experience on twitter forever -well reasoned arguments -polite professional debate -castigated  -greater resolve to protect the community -superb work -damaging for all concerned -awful-this too will pass -ignore the silly comments -ignore the rent-a-mobs -being hounded and labelled -attacked unnecessarily -ignore the wokerati -chant this too will pass -baffled by this business -abuse -we should know better  -privileged to be in the most honourable of professions -challenging this damaging ideology -children deserve better…their dreams and aspirations -predictable when you apply the ideology they analyze -sensible -love, no apologies, don’t wear out -block people -comedy gold -feel bad for you -good work and intentions -you’re still fabulous -positive suggestions are more useful -genuinely  nice guy -generous -insightful -block, move on -forgotten in a few days -ignore -astounded -sad -ridiculous -sad -think twice to tweet-I’m a liberal too, but… -block -block report all accounts  -report comments to the police -staggered -tyranny -slaughtered one way or the other, just do what you think f@ck the rest -just say it, f@ck them -screw the nutters and their fake accusations -get your bullet proof vest on first -toxic culture

Hold that thought.

To “other”…

-joining a gang -wokish bores -“holier than thou “ police -communist -non rational illogical -name calling -pile on -behaving badly -degenerates into insults -vile, vitriolic, personal agenda -bully en masse -equivalent to a gang in  school -accounts need to be shut down permanently -extreme behaviours -crazy -more credence than deserved -bullies -silly comments -vitriol -rent a mobs -combative fascists -wokerati -outraged mob -badly socialized chidden -mob -Pavlovian -witch hunt -gang mentality -brown paper bag test -colourist -cult -BIPOC “a thing” -BIPOC is one of those acronyms like TERF or SWERF made up by swivel eyed loons of critical theory trying to impart a veneer of legitimately to their drivel -communist -witch -chip on shoulder -unpleasant -going out of way to be annoyed -ridiculous pretentiousness -unpleasant individuals -harm to celebration of diversity -beyond daft -too much time on their hands -twiter trolls -people are crazy -infighting within their groups -not sane and irrational -piling on -black face gifs -daft -want to create a ruckus -fools -stupid -opinions are worthless -bunch of nuttas -unadulterated crap -convenient prop for their own egotism -identity politics can give POC and their advocates enormous power and the authority to disrupt everyone and kids lose out -a lot of people should be prevented from social media and they probably shouldn’t be allowed to vote -‘The lady doth protest too much methinks” -garbage -kafkatrapping -race hustlers -nutters

Hold that thought.

More than words and phrases, those centring and digging in, negated any chance of actual critical, thoughtful dialogue by turning it into a reductive parody, equating a genuine inquiry for equitable diversity to asking for the list to include : bearded teachers, Celts, Australians, unicorns, lmm, pqr, gingers, bald and so on. It was even taken to the extent that colour charts were brought up and individual colours were remarked up such that it mocked the very nature of the original question. Furthermore, those inquiring were derided as someone “woke”, a soy latte drinking evangelist sitting in a coffee shop, engaging in a Twitter war. Comments such as “reminding I am woke”, “emotional labour”, “taking time from my soy latte to educate you”, which then devolved into others commenting “Is your soy latte inclusive? Monster!”, followed by numerous laughing gifs and the argument that other milks were being left out and marginalized, thereby negating any sense of seriousness of the conversation.

The number of laughing gifs, congratulatory gifs, high five gifs after all the comments only served to remind people that there was a ” side” being supported and all rational, respectful debate be damned.

Hold that thought.

All, or almost all the participants were educators, involved in education in one form or another.

While a fantastic example of how language is powerful, how a dialogue can break down into hurtful, name calling, belittling statements, reductive humour, I am hesitant.

Hold that thought.

What is the greater lesson behind this? Language choice, debate, dialogue…But…

Hold that thought.

How will this make my students feel? What lesson will they actually be learning? That when someone pushes for equity, for more diverse representation, for people who look like them to be recognized and heard, given an equal opportunity to be celebrated and handed the mic, that this is what they need to expect? That this kind of behaviour is the reality? That they will be ridiculed, redacted and “othered” in such a derisive and dehumanizing fashion? How much trauma would such a lesson cause my students. And if I am concerned about it, why weren’t the powers with their laughing jibes and insulting, derisive quick come backs? Is this the display the they want their students to know then for?

Hold that thought.

Teachers. The very people who are supposed to be role models for the very children they say they are sent to serve. And I mean that literally, “serve”. That they should stoop to model such behaviour is a lesson I don’t know that I’m willing to dish out to my kids, because for many, it just serves to remind them that this is the reality, their reality.

Words. Are Powerful.

Check yourself.

Reflect.

Your students are watching. And learning.