tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212741399857110313.post2023606684584774035..comments2024-03-11T11:13:12.066-05:00Comments on Homeschool and Etc.: "That's retarded!" or "What a retard!" or "Are you retarded?" Happy Elf Mom (Christine)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15047347624037697311noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212741399857110313.post-78406185117570209072016-02-26T09:33:49.739-06:002016-02-26T09:33:49.739-06:00Hi, Karna! This is a guest post by my friend Bek,...Hi, Karna! This is a guest post by my friend Bek, but unfortunately these problems are pretty universal it seems. :/Happy Elf Mom (Christine)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15047347624037697311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212741399857110313.post-43137022364298361372016-02-26T08:10:51.592-06:002016-02-26T08:10:51.592-06:00HI Christine
Why doesn't the school stomp on ...HI Christine <br />Why doesn't the school stomp on bullying like that sort of feral rubbish. They have a duty of care to your kid<br /><br /><br />KarnaKarna O'Deahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13664573386167940506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212741399857110313.post-40706643972715322002016-02-13T12:47:24.617-06:002016-02-13T12:47:24.617-06:00I hear exactly what you are saying, LBK. So many ...I hear exactly what you are saying, LBK. So many of us who grew up with the word just meaning that something is "dopey" may automatically have that word come to mind now. But knowing it is hurtful, we don't say it. <br /><br />I know Bek is a great mother as well! She is always out there advocating for her teen son. :)Happy Elf Mom (Christine)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15047347624037697311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212741399857110313.post-51181572248163504842016-02-13T08:58:53.022-06:002016-02-13T08:58:53.022-06:00I think this is a fairly clear-cut issue. I suppo...I think this is a fairly clear-cut issue. I suppose I hae always been a child advocate. In home life I looked after my siblings and stood up to bullies (I had been bullied myself as a young kid), and in high school I herded the freshmen in band like little ducklings until they found their space, in college I concentrated in child welfare, in adult life I married a geeky introvert who was, unbeknownst to me, an Aspie and we made two babies who grew to toddlers and are not receiving their autism diagnoses and various therapies. I never considered the word retarded until well past high school. It was an 80's thing, I think. But now it makes me mad when my brain even goes there without my asking it to, like it's a word pathway that you automatically take. I absolutely would never refer to another individual as retarded aloud or even in thought. I use that word in my head when I make a mistake, mess up, which happens a lot due to sleep deprivation. I think that when I refer to folks with developmental issues in my head, I don't link it to the word "retarded" but rather to the actual disorder...but I realize that is not the norm. I see my toddlers and think about your child's experience and wish it could be better. They will face what your son is facing. I hope I can do the amazing job you have done to create such a wise and brave boy. We need more like you, and more like him on this planet. LBKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15187231242759685768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212741399857110313.post-75402578990090946372016-02-11T22:48:51.080-06:002016-02-11T22:48:51.080-06:00I am not sure about in Aus. but here it's a pe...I am not sure about in Aus. but here it's a pejorative as well as the medical description. In fact, the medical descriptions are changing in favour of terms such as "developmentally delayed" or "intellectual disability" and so on.Happy Elf Mom (Christine)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15047347624037697311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212741399857110313.post-23758844868413314872016-02-11T22:36:28.858-06:002016-02-11T22:36:28.858-06:00a very touchy issue. I'm glad your son is able...a very touchy issue. I'm glad your son is able to explain why the 'r' word isn't acceptable.<br />I'm not so sure about the whole thing. Retarded means developmentally delayed, mentally, as far as I know. (Does it also refer to physical delays?)<br />My own sister is retarded, (I've always used that word) and only just passed fifth grade by the time she was school leaving age. There's no way at all she would be able to explain why such a word is wrong or inexcusable. She is unable to work, not being able to understand so much of what is necessary to survive in any workforce. she was picked on at school too, but didn't understand or realise that the kids were teasing her.Riverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14794655013673748992noreply@blogger.com