In the Classroom: Dealing with Difficult Language

As a longtime 4th grade teacherthere are times when racist language appears in our classroom work. Each time I try to educate my students, but in a way that doesn’t seem hectoring, no easy task. For I think it is a fine line we teachers walk — while most of the kids may well take in all that we say, others may be quietly dismissive and go away with the opposite thought. And I try to keep in mind that what might be horrifying to me because of the history and knowledge I bring to a word, may no...