RE:"Nerd". I am so disappointed that some things don't go out of mode. That word, from when we were kids, is so stupid. Remember Nancy Reagan's campaign about Just Say No. There should be a campaign about how It's Cool to be Smart. Girls especially are susceptible to downplaying their intelligence to be accepted--key argument in single sex education. It is a struggle socially for these kids because others actually want them to fail to prove they're human. Sometimes even teachers.
I don't like name-calling/labels entirely. I just had a "discussion" with one DS who uses the word "gay". He tells his brother "that's a gay idea" or "a gay somethingorother". I told him it was no different from being rascist or hateful of others because they're different. My morning tirade--people are no better or worse than one another based on skin color, sexual orientation, religion...then the MLK Jr bit about judging on the quality of character.
