All I can do when I hear them and say be careful of what word you use in school. When I say that they look at my students, some of their eyes get big and utter out a “I’m sorry” some on the other hand say “Ok” with a look of I don’t know why I need to be careful with my word choices, and all I can do is walk away shaking my head. What happen to world where young children thought before they spoke and not just blurted out offensive words to hurt people they don’t even know anything about?
To get a better understanding of the word and why it is powerful in so many and why the word need to stopped. The word traces back to the year 1846 where physician S.G Howe coined the term simpleton. “Simpleton was intended to mean people mild intellectual disability. However, it never fully entered the worldwide medical community's terminology” (Community Counseling Services, INC pg 1) The term simpleton was better accepted back then because it was used the proper way and not in a derogatory sense and people today prefer that word over retard Even though the word was …show more content…
“The R-word spreads HURT“It is wrong to pain people with your language. Especially, when you have already been made aware of your oral transgression's impact. Make no mistake about it: WORDS DO HURT! And when you pepper your speak with "retard" and "retarded," you are spreading hurt.” – John C. McGinley, actor and star of the hit TV show “Scrubs”” (R-word) “The R-word is OFFENSIVE “The word retard is considered hate speech because it offends people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as the people that care for and support them. It alienates and excludes them. It also emphasizes the negative stereotypes surrounding people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; the common belief that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities should be segregated, hidden away from society, which, in my opinion, is really old fashioned.” – Karleigh Jones, Special Olympics New Zealand athlete” (R-word) These quotes are powerful and true in what they're saying because the word retard or retarded is hurtful and they make it clear in a simple way by just saying words are hurtful. ““Retarded” and “retard” today are variations on a slur. Young people especially like it: as a weapon of derision, it does the job. It’s sharp, with an assaultive potency that words like “moron” and “idiot” lost sometime in the days of black-and-white TV.” (A Word Gone Wrong, Downes