Two students holding hands, picture taken by Marlen Gomez.

A dark phenomenon lurks in the halls of The Village School, where our minds are nurtured and our future takes shape. Slurs are woven into our educational institutions. They are no longer confined to whispered secrets in the shadows; they have become a part of our everyday school life. Disguised as jokes and perceived as funny, we’ve forgotten that our words come from our perception of our environment and carry meaning. The Village School is known for its diversity and bringing people together, through something as beautiful as our yearning for knowledge. Still, is it that people are getting too comfortable with disrespect? 

Houston is known for its incredible diversity, boasting a population of over 2.288 million people. Many families have selected The Village School as the educational institution for their children, known for ranking as the No. 1 most diverse private school in Texas for 2022-23 by Niche and our strong emphasis on fostering an international community. However, challenges arise when these tendencies are seen in lower levels of school just like they are in high school. We are in search of a wake-up call for more awareness when addressing the normalized and violent language known as slurs that are used towards our peers. 

A slur, by definition, is an insinuation or allegation meant to insult or damage someone’s reputation. This tendency manifests in our daily interactions, where students, under the guise of friendship or humor, tread the territory of disrespect. Whole identities are reduced to a single word, accompanied by laughter. So, why does this phenomenon persist in a community that cherishes diversity and inclusivity? 

Said persistence is attributed to misinformation about the impact of casual slurs on individuals and the community. Casual examples of said language are: “Beaner” or “Beanie” directed to the Mexican community which classifies as an ethnic slur, while also having “slut” or “whore” being just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to sexist slurs. The effects of slurs ripple through our community, leaving an indelible mark. We are being affected by the normalization of said language, “We get more stressed, nervous, you know you’re not in a good environment, your head is not clear, you’re thinking about something else after you heard that comment,” said senior Luisa Ramos.“They have biased thoughts about you and you’re scared of approaching and talking to them because they might think something about you that is not true.” These remarks capture the problem’s core, which is how the casual use of slurs can undermine the sense of community and safety that ought to be present in a learning environment. The impact is significant. It undermines trust between students and teachers, preventing the supportive and collaborative environment that should characterize a diverse educational community like ours. 

“I’ve noticed that there’s been a shift between empowering young people to speak and then being very careful of censorship, and it almost seems like if you provide feedback and constructive criticism about how someone speaks about another, it then gets taken apart and deconstructed and reconstructed into something where it’s like you are trying to censor,” said Diana Pacheco, assistant director of The Village Middle School. This stated that the administrators in charge of addressing said issues are facing the challenge of striking a balance between encouraging open dialogue and fostering sensitivity when addressing slurs. 

It seems that some students may argue that their use of such language is protected under the banner of free speech. They’re right to say that our freedom of speech is a cherished right in our society, allowing us to express our thoughts and opinions openly but it shouldn’t be used as a form to assault someone or minimize their worth. It’s rare for students to try and approach their teachers when any kind of slur or derogatory language is used against them. In most cases, they’re filled with fear or confusion as to why this was said to them, especially since the use of this language is filled with satisfaction when seeing that words like these produce laughter. When we try to solve this issue, we are presented with more conflicts, as if the normalization of said language and behavior has made us unable to address said issue. We’ve made this a tendency or lifestyle that kids are slowly being introduced to as they grow up. “Like everything in the world, there’s a pendulum swing and I think we’re on that swing where you can say it and very few people are going to correct you,” Pacheco said. “I think it has devastating implications, the fact that if there are no consequences for this behavior, it’s going to continue. The slur is almost like the icing on the cake, you know, the final stab if you will.” 

Considering all this, it becomes clear that normalization of slurs in our educational institutions is a pressing concern that demands our immediate attention. Slurs cause divisiveness when they become accepted, making people continually on guard against possible injury. These hurtful words have infiltrated our daily interactions, eroding trust, and undermining the inclusive and supportive community we strive to be. Thus, it is incumbent upon us to confront this issue with resolve and determination. By fostering empathy, respect, and a true celebration of our diverse community, we can ensure that our educational institutions remain places of unity and growth for all. It’s time to end the normalization of slurs and forge a future where our words reflect the values we hold. It starts here, with us, The Village School.