I am so lucky to have 6th graders who are able to help me in my quest to not become a fuddy-duddy. Recently in class I made a joke about “being hip”. One of my students looked at me, slightly horrified, and said, “Oh…Mrs. Moore….don’t say that. Please.”
I admit to being somewhat perplexed. I said, “What? Don’t say “hip”?” I could have sworn I heard a collective gasp throughout the room. She shook her head at me and begged me again to not say that.
Well, being the open-minded person I am, I said, “Ok. How about cool?”
She emphatically shook her head as the students in the room chimed in with their quick assurances that I should not say “cool” either. Ok. So now I was more than a little intrigued.
I thought back to my own youth and came up with awesome, bad, and radical. All met with great disapproval and increasing dismay from my students.
I went a bit further. Groovy? Boss? Far out? Nope. None met with their approval.
Finally, I gave up.
“Ok. What is it now?”
“Beast.”
I probably looked a bit startled. “You mean like Beauty and the Beast? An animal? Beastie Boys?” (Yes, I think I lost some of them with that reference.) They quickly assured me that this was correct. “Beast” is the new “cool”.
I’m trying to figure out a way to use that in a conversation without seeming…..weird.
To my dad: “Hey, dad…..this book is totally beast.”
To my husband: “Wow, honey, that is a beastie website.” (not sure about usage here…have to ask the kids)
To my students: “Man, this paper you wrote is beast.”
I don’t think I have made it past the weird barrier. I keep trying, however, and my students good-naturedly laugh with me and help me to understand their lingo.
Sadly, I find myself reverting to my old ways: “Hey, that is cool!” “Wow, this is awesome!” I have not managed to work “beast” into my everyday language. I admit I am not overly worried about it – after all, “beast” won’t be cool one day. Who knows? Maybe we’ll be hip again and the whole world will be totally groovy. Peace out.
Christine Moore currently holds a degree from Howard Payne University and is actively working toward a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. Married with four children, Christine teaches 6th grade reading in Brownwood and has been working in education at various levels for the past 14 years. Her husband, Jeremy, owns a local company that specializes in web design, custom computer builds, and on-location repair called DreamSoft Design at www.dreamsoftdesign.com. Christine welcomes your questions and comments and would love to hear from you!