How do you stop children swearing?

Giving lessons in what obscenities mean is probably not the way to deal with foul language. CATHERINE MASTERS reports on attitudes here and overseas.

In a world shaped by the internet, raunchy rappers, South Park and movies and TV shows in which almost anything goes, swearing has become the lingua franca.

Does it matter, then, if children swear?

Yes, it matters very much, says Jenny Earle, president of the Principals' Federation.

Should New Zealand follow the approach of a school in Cornwall, England, in which children are taught the meaning of swear words in class?

Probably not. The controversial move led some parents to say children would simply learn and use more of the very words a teacher at the school was attempting to delete.

According to the BBC, a teacher told children to write down swear words, then revealed the true meaning.

The idea was that once aware of the vulgarity of the expressions, pupils would be deterred from using them. The lesson was part of the personal, social and health education module, which dealt with growing up.

A spokeswoman for the local council defended the lesson because it was important children understood that inappropriate language could be offensive, hurtful and inflammatory.

However, one mother said: "I can't see how this can possibly discourage children from swearing - it just gives them a wider variety of curses to use."

Jenny Earle said children were taught that swearing was not appropriate when speaking in society. "Those sorts of lessons are starting in primary school," she said.

If a pupil could not be made to stop repeating serious obscenities he or she would be told to stay away from school for a few days.

That would be done in consultation with the parents. There would also be a lot of counselling with the child, particularly if the swearing was targeted at teachers or other children.

Jenny Earle said children often came out with filthy language without knowing why.

"That's a time for us to say, 'no, that's not appropriate, we don't speak like that at school. Talk to mum and dad about what that word means but that's not a word that you use at school.' "

But what about "bugger," the word given iconic status by the Toyota television advertisement? Surely that is okay to use?

No way, said Jenny Earle. "I explained at school assembly that this is a word that has become acceptable only because you've seen it on television but it is still a swear word and it's not a word that we use.

"That particular advertisement was responsible for a lot of colourful language for a little while until the children realised - and we didn't talk about its meaning - that it was not appropriate."

If parents swore in front of their children they should explain they used the words because they were tired, or frustrated, and tell them they do not use the word in public.

"We don't want to hide swearing from children," Jenny Earle said. "They've got to know these words exist but they also need to know when it is inappropriate to use them."

So should you tell children what the words mean?

"It depends on the word. I mean, the new health syllabus instructs us to make sure that the children do use correct terms for body parts.

"The word penis is no longer a naughty word with the five- and six-year-olds, it's just a word that describes another part of the body."

Though it was important to discuss what those words meant, "I wouldn't be explaining the meaning of the word bugger to a primary school child."

A booklet put out by Fairfield School in Levin has a definite anti-swearing policy - it is about respect.

The school rules state that Fairfield is a non-violent place.

Children are not to hit, grab, push, punch, scrag or verbally threaten or abuse one another.

The booklet adds: "We respect other people by not using swear words or calling them names or saying things that put them down."

Chris France, the president of the School Trustees' Association, says each school has its own policy on bad language and what should be done about it.

The association does not get to hear about it much - which indicates the issue is dealt with in the school and is not as big a deal as it perhaps once was.

"There's a move in societal values.

"Some language that I would not have been allowed to get away with when I was a boy, is probably now given a bit of a frown ... whereas 20 years ago you would probably be sent to the back of the room and given a hunk of cane across your bum."

The involvement of parents in school boards meant standards were community based, rather than being left to teachers or the Government.

Graham Capill, head of the Christian Heritage Party, says swearing still matters - and so does blasphemy.

"One thing that does offend me is the amount of blasphemy that is used these days by adults and children.

"People who have no concern about religious things use 'Jesus' all the time as a swear word. Why do that?"

"Children should be taught that the use of certain words can give offence and to be considerate - and adults should clean their mouths out.

"Many times children don't know the meanings of the words," he said. "They just think it's a cool thing to do because they've heard adults doing it. "At the end of the day, I think adults need to tidy up their act a lot more."