I personally view respect as having consideration for other people and things. Respect is about being aware of your surroundings, and treating them in a way that is positive to their well-being. It is a cliche, but I support the idea that says you have to give respect to receive respect. That means the same as the well known action of treating others as you would want to be treated. From my own experience, I am not going to want to act compassionately towards someone who is treating me poorly or talking down to me. However, I have found that if I am giving a person my full interest and "respect", I do receive the same in return.
In the classroom, respect is in the form of a positive give and take between the students and the teacher. A teacher shouldn't talk down to the students or act as if they are a superior power who has the right to control the students. A teacher should be an authority figure, but should do so in a way that allows the students to choose to follow the instructions because they want to. For example, a teacher who is demanding about the student's assigned task will most likely cause the student to resent taking part. A teacher who can make the task sound interesting, without coming off as just barking out orders, will be a much better motivator. Most students will want to accomplish the task at hand, rather than feeling forced to do so. A teacher who can establish equal giving and receiving respect will have a much more well functioning classroom. The students will be excited to learn and be a part of activities, and the teacher will have an easier time with getting students to participate enthusiastically.
All in all, respect is important to a smooth functioning classroom. I believe that respect should first be shown to the students from the teacher. This way, the children get a chance to see what respect looks like, allowing them to figure out how to give respect to others. Respect is caring about everything surrounding you, and acting in a way that shows just that. I find it 100% true, that you have to give respect to get respect. Once that is established, everyone in the classroom will find out how to work together successfully.
Hi Emma (I'm Jim's student aid, in case he hasn't "virtually" introduced me to your class yet; he gave me permission to read/comment on your guys' blogs
ReplyDeleteI think what you wrote in your middle paragraph is key: "A teacher should be an authority figure, but should do so in a way that allows the students to CHOOSE to follow the instructions because they want to." Bingo. You can't force anybody to learn, and you certainly can't force them to respect you. Sure, you can force them to be quiet and submissive, but who cares if students are quiet and submissive all day long if they're not learning anything? (due to the fact that the students, themselves, aren't being respected as human beings by their teachers). It seems that maybe there is a type of respect that should be given to all people as a general rule of humanity, but that then there is the type of respect that has to be earned (as you write about). And you're right: respect has to be EARNED by teachers too!