I have a couple of boys calling some of my girls wh0res. Yesterday we had a big long discussion about inappropriate language. They have also been telling them to f#ck a pole. One of my little cherubs asked, "Mrs. Dyson what is a wh0re?"

I replied, "Well a wh0re is a word for an adult woman who does inappropriate things. Therefore it can't be used to describe anyone in our class other than me, because I'm the only adult woman. Since I don't do inappropriate things, I'm not one either. So stop using it, because you're misusing the word."

Their faces were priceless. Seriously, some of them really did have their jaws drop.

I suspect my boys using it are hearing it at home applied to their mothers or older brothers' girlfriends. It's a sad world out there for a lot of kids.

V.