Superintendents' poor word choice

While many issues were covered in the Daily Herald's interviews with the superintendents of the Naperville school systems, I found one very disturbing aspect to the articles. The two highest educators who are responsible for education of 35,000 students repeatedly referred to our children as "kids."

What is the primary definition of "kid" in the Merriam Webster dictionary? "A young goat."

As a student attending public schools in the inner Chicago suburbs, use of the word "kid" was deemed to be improper English and meant failure, even in the first grade. I cringed during my election campaign as others would refer to our children as "kids."

In fact, I caught myself on several occasions being pulled into the same trap (although I might have unfortunately slipped as well).

But is it acceptable for the leaders of the school districts to use such slang? What about children, students, young adults, adolescents, pupil, scholar, school child or youngster. In their responses, these "leaders" used "kid" 58 times. None of the other words were used more than five times.

I think it is time to add some decorum to our schools. And it should start at the top!

Daniel Denys

Naperville