The University of Southern California’s school of social work will no longer use the word “field” in its curriculum, citing its racist “connotation.”
USC’s Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work will make the change in order to ensure the use of “inclusive language and practice,” according to the letter.
“Specifically, we have decided to remove the term ‘field’ from our curriculum and practice and replace it with ‘practicum,'” the letter said. “This change supports anti-racist social work practice by replacing language that would be considered anti-Black or anti-immigrant in favor of inclusive language.”
The department decided to remove the word “field” from its curriculum and replace it with “practicum,” according to the letter, which was dated Jan. 9 and shared on Twitter.
“This change supports anti-racist social work practice by replacing language that would be considered anti-Black or anti-immigrant in favor of inclusive language,” the letter said.
The letter continued: “Language can be powerful, and phrases such as ‘going into the field’ or ‘field work’ maybe have connotations for descendants of slavery and immigrant workers that are not benign.”
