Image: sewitsforyou
Our state government here in Victoria has recently decided to go ahead with policy and laws that allow police to apply on-the-spot fines for foul language. The basic fine is about the same as what you'll get for speeding in a motor car.
This is an interesting issue in itself, but given that the lads I teach do have recurrent problems with swearing, I thought this would be excellent fodder for reading and discussion materials. As part of the general VCAL Literacy outcome requirements, learners are always asked to compare texts on topics, and I have sourced the following:
1. Big fines for those who cry foul (General expository news article)
2. I say fiddle sticks to your swearing fines Mr Baillieu (Opinion piece A)
3. Stop bans on cursing? Bugger that (Opinion piece B)
Swearing is one of those public issues that has resonance across language and culture, so I thought these articles might be of interest to teachers in other parts of the world as well. They basically provide a fairly neutral expository text followed by two different opinions/reactions to a rather strict public policy.
See what your students make of it all!
=D
