Swearing is almost everywhere, on television, on the streets, in the home but now schools want swearing to be banned to a zero tolerance level, even within the playground and corridors. There are many different views on this, in my research it shows that the older generation back this bid all the way because they believe that swearing is not acceptable and that they didn’t have it at school so why should children now? Are they just living in the past? With the new social acceptance of swearing, many kids now know plenty of words in which they could use, many just choose not to but do like the option there for many reasons. Why should schools have the ability to make decisions on behalf of the children? Many students of secondary schools believe that they should be able to use their language in which ever way they choose and that they should be trusted enough to be responsible about the use of their language. They also argue that bringing in a strong ban without consulting the students may cause tension and rebellion within the school, which in turn could result in the use of swearing increasing, because the tolerance is decreasing. Swearing is also seen as a way for uneducated people to express themselves, many people who are educated still use swearing, just at appropriate times such as when they’re at home and stump their toe on the fridge!
Other research also shows that the number of swear words that we would actually class as a swear word are diminishing, this would be a result of society become acceptant of the type of language, David Crystal says that words that were once offensive such as ‘Heck’ is now hardly used but has been replaced by stronger words with much more meaning such as ‘F**k’ He also says that in some places, they are famous for their imaginative swearing expressions, this implies that not only this country which is becoming immune to swearing, but many across the world.
It seems that from my research different people have a different view, such as the difference of gender, many of the people asked that said no to the question were males, this may be because men now do not always use swearing offensively but more for recreational use to reinforce their masculinity. Women on the other hand said that it should be banned to protect the young children from being exposed to swearing before they can understand the complicity of the subject, and also before they are able to understand what it is the words mean.
Personally I think that the swearing ban should be available in primary schools, but I don’t think that primary school children would generally use offensive words, hopefully they don’t know any! By the age of 11, secondary school starting age I think that the children are able to understand about swear words and the effect they have on certain people and then choose for themselves whether or not they wish to use these words and when they should use them and when it is not acceptable.
