Fury Over List Of Words Teacher Supposedly Banned From The Classroom

A list of words and phrases allegedly banned by a teacher who thinks they are "inappropriate for an academic setting" has gone viral.

The list of 32 slang words was shared to X, formerly Twitter, by hearts4zaniyahh, who posted a photograph of a sheet detailing the banned terms. Newsweek has been unable to verify the original author of the list. Despite this lack of veracity, the list has nevertheless gone viral, with the original post racking up 33.5 million views and counting, along with criticism from X users and education experts alike.

In an introduction to the list, the teacher explains: "If you are caught using these words, you will write a short essay explaining why you chose to use these words in an academic setting to express yourselves."

"There are many ways to articulate what you need to say without using slang," the educator continues. "Please know that using slang in an academic setting can diminish your capability to become a successful writer."

The unnamed teacher goes on to say: "The gibberish some of you choose to use is improper English and sometimes inappropriate for an academic setting." The list includes "Bruh," "bet," "motion," "standing on business," "just vibe," "that's cap" "on my momma" and "rizz."

Pritay Washington, an expert on childhood education at the Education Development Center, told Newsweek of her concerns about this particular teacher's alleged approach.

"So much happens in middle and high school beyond the learning of classroom content. Students are developing cognitively, mentally, socially, emotionally and physically," she said. "They are honing their critical thinking skills and learning how to navigate the world around them. The importance of student engagement is critical, and this includes representation. Students' sense of belonging matters."

Washington pointed to research conducted by the Quaglia Institute in 2016 that found that students who feel they have a voice in class are seven times more likely to feel motivated than those who do not.

"Part of creating a space where students feel encouraged to learn and safe to explore is allowing them to use their voices," she said. "While teachers have to balance establishing both expectations and boundaries (to maintain that safety) there must be room for students to speak freely in their unique voice. By taking that away, this teacher risks losing a valuable connection with students and an opportunity to have a positive, lasting impact."

Washington added that allowing students to have a voice in the classroom was also an "equity issue."

"Every generation of teenagers has their own language, and social media has had a major role in creating phrases for this current one," she said. "Rather than banning terms, this teacher might consider engaging students around them. Be curious, ask what they mean, seek to establish which ones might be harmful and come to an agreement on phrases they will refrain from using (this also supports teaching empathy). The teacher could also weave in conversation about timing—when is it OK to use these terms and, instances where they cannot, what they could use instead."

Washington's criticism was echoed by many on X.

"​​She's on a power trip & and doesn't value the language of her students. She is more concerned with compliance than learning about her students, because she does not value her students' identities," one former teacher commented on the platform.

Another user wrote: ""The way you speak is the way you will write" baby I use "slang"/AAVE [African-American Vernacular English] 98% of the time and I'm an award-winning journalist."

However, there were some that agreed with the approach. One X user said: "No it makes total sense especially when you have to correct the essays that use too much slang and children don't know how to expand on the ideas. Because slang is usually one word to express something, when writing children can't explain themselves well."

The inclusion of the term "rizz"—an abbreviation of the word "charisma"—is worthy of note as it was named the Oxford Dictionary's word of the year for 2023. The Oxford Dictionary defines "rizz" as "style, charm or attractiveness" or "the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner." It can also be used as a verb—to "rizz up" someone essentially means to attract, or seduce an individual.

Newsweek has contacted hearts4zaniyahh on Twitter for comment.