Hey Little Sweetie (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Sweetie -Synonyms: beloved, darling, dear, flame, hon, honey, love, squeeze [slang], sweet, sweetheart, sweetie pie, truelove (Merriam-Webster)
Some of my female colleagues have the bad habit, in my opinion, of calling their students ‘sweetie’, a moniker they claim reflects their affection and regard for these ebullient teens, both male and female. The reason I profoundly disagree with this term, besides being too sugary, is the negative reaction I observe in most adolescent boys; they don’t manifest their inconformity openly, but I can see their pained expression as if saying “Don’t confuse me with a little kid.” Self-esteem often grows and withers during the teen years, depending on the circumstances. The use of such condescending words can only irritate and even damage their self-image.
jcsprenger
