A Question For Parents Whose Children Speak Slang

This is a question for those whose child speaks slang/ebonics as a first language, common among urban children. Teachers are taught to respect all langauges and being a linguist as well, I see it as another language. When it comes to my classroom the children are taught to read, write, and speak in mainstream English. However, in the cafeteria and on the playground or outside of school the students and I speak with each other in slang. How do you feel about this? Should your children be taught to never speak slang? Should slang be spoken in the classroom? I am trying to prepare my students for two worlds they will face out there (all of my students come from a rough area). I find it important that they know both. Opinions?
Oh, and being a linguist you know I have my room color coded with different languages lol. My blue labels are in French, red in Spanish, and black in Swahili. The children love to learn languages!

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I have always taught my child to speak proper "English" in my home. I've told him he can use slang with his friends but needs to know when it is appropriate and how to switch gears if necessary. Basically, it's like you have to know the rules in order to break them...in this case "when" you're breaking them and how to recover when in different company. Because there is no "F" in truth and speaking that way just might cost them a great job some day.

I agree!

Thank you. You and me are on the same page I can tell you!
While I consider slang to be a language, or more perhaps another dialect, it won't serve them well in the business world and some other worlds. I also speak to my students (and son) using a rich vocabulary. It amazes me how much wider of a vocabulary British children have over American children.

Thank you I agree with this as well. My Nigerian friend was telling me over lunch the other day that she speaks only standard English when in the classroom or around Americans. When she is out with her friends she will speak Hausa or Igbo, but never speak Hausa or Igbo in front of people who can't speak it. It's interesting some people will speak their own language in front of people who can't understand them, such as the Japanese and the Brazilians, but others find that rude such as the French and the Nigerians. Thanks for your informative reply.

I agree with this 100%

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A Question For Parents Whose Children Speak Slang

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