"nerds"

[dramacentral]

My students are being teased about being nerds. But not by other students - by their teachers!

I am the science teacher in our building, and over the past month or so I have started to hear comments here and there. I didn't put it all together until I showed the kids a video about space and when one of the scientists came on the screen, they all exclaimed, "Ew! Look at the nerd!" I paused the video and asked them why they would call someone a nerd, and what made them think it was OK to make fun of a scientist. They replied, "Well, ______ (their homeroom teacher) always calls us nerds."

They weren't making it up. She really does call them nerds. She did it once on the bus to a field trip, and I overheard it. And her grade level colleague, who teaches some of them in reading or math, does it too. It's supposedly done in a joking way, but honestly - we are trying to instill a love of learning and respect for others, so how is this appropriate?

I ended up giving a whole speech about nerds and how so many people who are called "nerds" grow up to be successful, and how I wasn't going to tolerate any "nerd talk" in my classroom because I am one and have always been one. The other day, a kid mentioned it to me in the hallway, and I said, "Well, I'm the biggest nerd ever, so I don't consider it an insult."

I'm now wondering how to address this with my colleagues. I personally was teased growing up for being "nerdy" and "geeky" and saw others bullied with those same words. I don't think this is the kind of thing we want to encourage. Plus, I find it ironic that teachers would tease children about being invested in school and loving learning. To me it seems like an anti-intellectual attitude.

 

[Mrs. T.]

Those teachers are giving other students the "ok" to make fun of these kids. I think that is terrible.

 

[garnet]

nerds

This is something I would bring to the attention of the administrator. She/He needs to know that staff members are belittling students and this shouldn't be tolerated.

 

[NCteacher]

That is shameful! I would bring it to the attention of your administration or the parents of those students. That kind of thinking can really turn kids off of school.

Here is a true story about nerds! Over 20 years ago, my cousin was a snotty teenager. He was living in California and was forced to attend a party with his mother. He was interested in computers and technology, so the host offered to introduce my cousin to a guest at the party who was also into technology. The host pointed the guest out to my cousin- my cuz took one look at the very nerdy looking guest and said, "no thanks- what a geek!". The guest that my cousin declined to meet was Bill Gates! Just think about what that could have meant to a teenager and what kind of contact that could have been! My cousin is now in his early 30's and repeatedly says that someone should have kicked him in the butt for being so judgemental!

I surely hope that the teachers who are calling the kids nerds stop- it is hard to believe that I bust my butt every day to instill a love of learning in my 3rd graders, only for it to be undone by some careless teachers when they are older! Grrrrrr

 

[cvt]

bumper sticker

I saw a bumper sticker not too long ago that said something like "Be kind to nerds. They will be your boss some day."

 

[Garden Gal]

yikes

Sometimes people just don't think! As I read the other posts I kept wondering how assertive I'd be in this situation. It's hard to stand up to 2 colleagues without causing a huge commotion. If I was in this position I'd definately say something-but I'd probably not be confrontational. Maybe at a team meeting say something like " I had the weirdest experience with my kids the other day, they said that you call them nerds." Hopefully this would open the discussion in a productive way without embarassing the teachers-who should be embarassed. Tell the Bill Gates story-that's a classic!

 

[dramacentral]

Thanks for all the replies - I think I am going to approach it by saying, "When your kids were in my room they were making some inappropriate comments about nerds and geeks. I showed them a video featuring a scientist and they were distracted from the content because they were making fun of him for being a nerd. I'm not sure where that is coming from, but I told them it was not something to joke about." It's up to them whether they want to fess up to the teasing or not. All I want is to get the message across that it's not appropriate and actually could prevent kids from learning.

 

[SuperSub1919]

I'm a self proclaimed GEEK...

look in the dictionary, there is a difference between a geek and a nerd.

both a geek and a nerd are smart and socially awkward. But a nerd is UGLY. A geek is unspecified hahaha! Yes, I am a huuuge geek to be looking this up in the dictionary!!

I have grown to like my "geekiness". I wouldn't be the person I am if I wasn't teased about my geekiness. I was never worried about my hair, clothes or whether or not I had a boyfriend in school. I learned to be myself. I even wear a pin that says "GEEK" on it! The kids are shocked that I like to call myself a geek. They don't see me as a geek, because they have been conditioned to associate the words geeks and nerds with negativity/ugliness/stereotypes. They don't understand that being nerdy is OK...like Bill Gates!!! It all depends on the context for me. I'm ok with calling myself a geek because I am one!

Sounds like this teacher is giving these kids a term of endearment:-) But if it really bothers you that much...I'd probably say something to a higher up...*sigh*

 

[WritingTeach]

I wonder...

if it is possible for the teachers to be using the word nerd in a more quirky way. Do they honestly use it as an insult?

I do embrace my geekiness. I let my kids know that it is wonderful to be different. To be interestingly weird is a gift.

One day my principal called an eighth grade girl a freak. The girl came to me all upset. I had to explain to her that the principal was actually giving her a compliment. I let her know the principal called me a freak too! Being a freak can be fun. I ended up bringing the girl to the principal to say the same to the girl. She was able to apologize and make the girl feel a lot better.

I find it so hard to believe an adult would actually try to insult a child.

If they have, they should resign and find another job.

 

[dramacentral]

The fact that the kids were using the word as an insult tells me that they didn't see it as a compliment or term of endearment, even if the teachers intended it that way.

 

[Mrs. T.]

I think we have to be careful comparing adults to children. Even though an adult doesn't mind being called a nerd/geek you can't assume the child will understand that. There is different immaturity level on both the child and their classmates.

 

[tia]

nerds

perhaps the adults are jealous because they know those students are smarter than they and will grow up to be richer and more powerful! (not a good reason to be using the word disparagingly around students)

i would sent out a blanket email to the staff regarding the incident so no one is missed in the info.

i might also have my students make t-shirts that read:
proud to be a math nerd
proud to be a science nerd
proud to be an engineering nerd
proud to be a physics nerd
proud to be the next Bill Gates or Stephen Hawking, etc

proud to be smart
it's cool to like math/science, etc
it's cool to be smart