Am I overreacting? (yes another school vent thread)

[Mom21]

Guess what is on my 4th grade dd's spelling list for this week?

Cocaine

She had to define it and spell it. I am livid. Not that I don't teach my child about drugs and alcohol, but I don't feel that this is an appropriate word for a spelling list. I could understand if she were doing a DARE program and they broached the subject, but she isn't.

 

[binny]

that is a little odd.

I know its just a word but its just strange that it would be on there.

 

[DisneyDotty]

My kid's spelling words come from the reading unit of study that week (makes sense--study 'em in context.) Does yours? If so, really makes you wonder what they're reading... If not, I'd ask the teacher why that particular word.

 

[MushyMushy]

Yikes, that's weird. Are they studying drugs in any of their other subjects?

 

[petrymom]

Not sure I would be too fond of this either. Yes, they should be aware that drugs are wrong, but do they need to go into specifics in the 4th grade???

I am not even sure my 6th grader is sure of what this is? Wow!?!?!?!

 

[disneymom3]

Ummm yeah. That would tick me off. Just one of the many reasons I homeschool.

 

[harleyquinn]

Since the title of you thread is what it is, i will say, yes I think you are overreacting. BUT I'm very glad you are paying attention.

I'm glad YOU speak to your child about drugs and alcohol, but what about all the parents that don't?

I assume the class will have some discussion of the word and that's a good thing.

Now if they had the word "rape" or "incest" I might freak out, but I'm sure the teacher isn't encouraging anything by having that word on the list.

Beyond that, as an English major, from a purely English perspective: it's on the most often misspelled list, because it's tricky.

 

[harleyquinn]

Not sure I would be too fond of this either. Yes, they should be aware that drugs are wrong, but do they need to go into specifics in the 4th grade???

I am not even sure my 6th grader is sure of what this is? Wow!?!?!?!

Who says they are going into specifics? Defining Cocaine means they'll know what it is and can avoid it.

Why would anyone NOT want their child to be aware of what a specific drug is? Do you all seriously think by talking about something, you will make them seek it out?

I honestly don't understand what you would be worried about??

I'm not trying to be mean or argumentative. I just don't understand.

 

[MushyMushy]

Who says they are going into specifics? Defining Cocaine means they'll know what it is and can avoid it.

Why would anyone NOT want their child to be aware of what a specific drug is? Do you all seriously think by talking about something, you will make them seek it out?

I honestly don't understand what you would be worried about??

I'm not trying to be mean or argumentative. I just don't understand.

When some teachers teach spelling, the words are typically not defined; they are just given as a list. There is absolutely no reason for a spelling list to include a word like cocaine. The words mostly stand alone and have no common meaning. They may have vowel and consonant clusters in common, but that's about it.

However, if the word is included in a unit that is discussing drugs and alcohol, that's a different story, because there would be a lot more information going along with the word.

 

[Crankyshank]

Yeah I would say you're overreacting. It's just a word and I'm pretty sure the teacher wouldn't have just put it on the list just to be that way.

 

[harleyquinn]

When some teachers teach spelling, the words are typically not defined; they are just given as a list. There is absolutely no reason for a spelling list to include a word like cocaine. The words mostly stand alone and have no common meaning. They may have vowel and consonant clusters in common, but that's about it.

That's fine, but the OP said her daughter had to spell AND DEFINE the word.

 

[JunieJay]

I think its VERY odd and I can't think of one good reason why it would be on a 4th grade spelling test.

I don't think of myself as a parent who overreacts, but I think I would be questioning the school on this one.

 

[VioltePrincess]

Not sure I would be too fond of this either. Yes, they should be aware that drugs are wrong, but do they need to go into specifics in the 4th grade???

I am not even sure my 6th grader is sure of what this is? Wow!?!?!?!

you'd be surprised.

both of my dd's did DARE in 5th grade, and you have no idea what these kids pick up from the media.

 

[MushyMushy]

That's fine, but the OP said her daughter had to spell AND DEFINE the word.

Okay, but are they then going to discuss what it is and the dangers of it? With spelling, usually not. Spelling is often a stand-alone subject.

With the 6th grade, we don't touch the topics of spelling words. We just give the words as a list and they learn to spell them and write sentences with them. If cocaine showed up in one of our random spelling lists, I'd take it out.

 

[VioltePrincess]

I think its VERY odd and I can't think of one good reason why it would be on a 4th grade spelling test.

I don't think of myself as a parent who overreacts, but I think I would be questioning the school on this one.

I'd be curious, too...but I suspect there's a reason they were given the word.

 

[Mom21]

Okay, got a little more info. My dd is reading "Number the Stars". Cocaine is in the afterward. It describes what is used in handkerchiefs to numb the dogs noses during the Holocaust. Cocaine and rabbit's blood. However, I think this could have been briefly described in class and not used as a vocabulary/spelling word. 4th grade??????? I homeschooled until last year. Too bad I no longer can. And no....my dd isn't sheltered.

 

[MushyMushy]

Okay, got a little more info. My dd is reading "Number the Stars". Cocaine is in the afterward. It describes what is used in handkerchiefs to numb the dogs noses during the Holocaust. Cocaine and rabbit's blood. However, I think this could have been briefly described in class and not used as a vocabulary/spelling word. 4th grade??????? I homeschooled until last year. Too bad I no longer can. And no....my dd isn't sheltered.

It's still odd. I'd never use it as a vocab word in a literature unit!

If I were you, I'd bring up to the teacher how uncomfortable it makes you.

 

[chobie]

It is kind of wierd choice for a spelling word, but now that you have explained the context I don't think its that outrageous.

 

[harleyquinn]

Okay, but are they then going to discuss what it is and the dangers of it? With spelling, usually not. Spelling is often a stand-alone subject.

With the 6th grade, we don't touch the topics of spelling words. We just give the words as a list and they learn to spell them and write sentences with them. If cocaine showed up in one of our random spelling lists, I'd take it out.

I guess I'm just assuming they would HAVE to talk about it, but thinking back those days, we usually didn't. So yeah, I'd be concerned if it was brought up and not discussed at all. I still wouldn't be freaking out about it, because if I was like you, I would have caught it and discussed it with her, but I would be concerned for the rest of the class...and it would be a pain to think I had to monitor my kids spelling list.

Okay, I changed my mind! The teacher probably should have sent a note home to tell you that they were going to discuss it, but that would make people mad too.

 

[Goofyluver]

Listen...I'd have a problem with it too. I would ask the teacher about it.