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It's disruptive if other children find it offensive. They may be complaining to their parents, who are then complaining to the teacher and/or the principal. She is trying to keep the peace and make the classroom a safe space for all. It's very difficult to enforce norms in a public school because families cannot agree amongst themselves what the norms are.

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If the teacher does nothing, some of the other parents will complain. Some people are really offended by "oh my God" and they will also go to the principal (and probably already have).

Thank you for your words. I spoke with my son today during our car ride when he said oh my gosh and I told him his teacher doesn't like it when he says that. He told me home is ok school is not. So he understands but has a slip up every now and then. If the teacher is still being rude to him I will schedule a meeting with her

We let our kids say whatever they want at home, all curse words included.

They have literally never been in trouble for using such language in front of overly uptight people who would be offended by it.

Cussing lost it's appeal because we don't mind if they do it. My kids are 9f and 16m. As parents, we cuss far more than they do.

Just words used for emphasis. No reason to be upset I've them.

With that said, my kids are extremely respectful, smart, and well liked amongst teachers and friends. We got lucky, thus far.

I've never understood people who are so uptight they think cussing is wrong. Lol. Mind boggling.

This sounds made up

Religious wack-a-doos are simply the worst.

I say things, and I say different things in front of my toddler. Maybe you should try that instead of giving the teacher, whose job it is to TEACH toddlers how to best behave, a hard time.

Sorry, I shouldn’t have taken it seriously, my bad!

It was a joke

Boston to Boston takes 45 mins to an hour at 7 am

The biblical commandment to not take the lord’s name in vain applies only to the people who follow the Bible’s teachings. It’s their commandment, no one else’s. And it’s not even close to a swear in colloquial terms. It’s just an expression of surprise, and an extremely common one at that.

The OP’s child is not capable of using god’s name in vain because he doesn’t even believe in the god in question. You have to believe in this god for it to be a problem, and even then it’s only a problem for you.

OP, I’d do two things. First, I’d talk to the teacher and tell her, politely, to back off. She’s said her piece, but she’s not allowed to ban speech based on religious grounds. Your child is not calling anyone names or harassing his classmates. The teacher is not supposed to give a religious lesson in public school. I’d let her know that I’m still asking my child, out of respect for his classmates, to say “oh my gosh” instead, but that he will not be perfect and she is not to speak to him again about this subject.

And then I’d ask my kid to try to switch to “oh my gosh,” but I’d emphasize it’s not a swear and that we’re asking him to try to say “gosh” because some of his classmates might feel better if he says that instead of “god.”

And then I’d drop it unless the teacher keeps harassing him, at which point I’d go over her head.

Edited to add: I would also document everything with date of discussion and what you and the teacher both said. You’ll need it if you have to go to the principal.

Same here for my kids at preschool. I think they just don't want God talked about in the classroom setting. Simple as that. Right or wrong can be discussed but it's not just your preschool.

How many? The numbers must be very small.

I've met a couple people that live in southern Maine and commute to Boston, doesn't mean southern Maine is the Boston metro, because 99% of people there don't commute to Boston.

Either way, I don't get the E. MA/W. MA rivalry thing. I like both and there's no need for some weird tribalism between them IMO.

No, it isn't. Some people who work in Boston live in palmer so they can afford to live

Metro Boston is far, far away from encroaching on Western MA so I don't really get the rivalry. I like Western MA and want it to remain it's own thing, but it's way too far away for commuter condos to Boston so I don't really get the concern about metro Boston somehow encroaching on it. It's not like Easthampton is Worcester.

Horseneck beach is kinda nice and often overlooked. Westport and the part of Dartmouth near there are quaint and pretty. Lots of fields and old farmhouses. It's cool to drive out on the causeway to Gooseberry Island and go for a walk. There's probably not much else to do in the area though. Mirasol's Cafe and New York Bagel are good and not too far away. You could even drive over to New Bedford and hit up the Whaling Museum after. There is a good Burger Joint and good Mexican restaurant nearby and lots of good Portuguese restaurants, you could go and get some Shrimp Mozambique.

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I’m not angry or defensive. You’re changing the discussion to a constitutional/liberty argument and my point is that the kindergarten teacher didn’t even say it offended her own beliefs. And the teacher’s religious beliefs have never even come into the thread. The teacher can ask any kid to stop saying anything that is disruptive. Five year olds don’t get to decide what is or isn’t disruptive to the classroom. You are clearly going to be that asshole parent that kindergarten teachers complain to their spouse and friends about.

It's uptight, yes, but let's look at it like this: I've been very diligent with my boys (5 and 11) about not using the word "hate", "dumb", "fat", and other pretty charged words. I've made it clear to them that "oh my god" or "what the heck" just don't jive in our house either.

It's not because I'm religious. I'm far from it – I'm not atheist either, I just basically don't care either way. I'm also incredibly colloquial in my speech. It's more about raising the boys to be respectful members of the community. Part of that is in the everyday language they use.

I don't really judge people who say "My goodness, that is quite a surprising development" or "OMG what the heck just happened there?!" – but I know our society does. Better to just be a respectful, thoughtful person and that gets you halfway to the finish line with others.

Great ideas. Lovely area with lots to explore.

OP, there’s a rail trail in Turner’s Falls that will give you some cool post-industrial and waterfall views. Awesome French King Bridge views on E Mineral Rd. Keep heading south to the Montague Book Mill - really cool used bookstore by a waterfall. Montague Plains Wildlife Management Area is a really interesting and unique landscape.

Yeah they’ll put a market basket and some condos where each unit costs $600,000

It absolutely is happening here. If you cannot understand it, that’s on you.

Dude, chill the fuck out. You already lost the argument, just accept it. Throwing a temper tantrum isn’t going to change that.

I know you are going to try very hard to get the last word in, but it changes nothing. The teacher is absolutely trying to force her religion on people who do not want to partake, and it’s absolutely not a problem for someone to say “oh my god” like you keep trying to imply.

You are clearly on the wrong side of this one, no amount of arguing or freaking out is going to change that. Grow up.