Respect

Dictionary.com defines 'respect'- "v. to hold in esteem or honor."  The definition is readily available to those who seek it and yet respect is such a difficult thing to understand and apply.  The line is many times quite fuzzy between disrespect and respect.  It all depends on the situation and the people involved.  Simple sayings help some remember how to respect other people such as "Treat others as you want to be treated."  Others brains go directly to the ever popular Aretha Franklin song "Respect."  For me respect is defined as a behavior toward others that is appropriate for the situation and also being tolerant of whatever response I get.

"Respect your elders," right?  Isn't that what we always say? So in a classroom the students must respect the teacher, right?  As long as I have been knowledgeable enough to debate this issue I have always come to the conclusion of wrong.  Just as with my peers if a teacher or other adult does not respect me I have absolutely no inherent reason to respect them.  In a classroom respect must go both ways...no matter how old the children or the teacher for that matter. I think that being said that respect does not ever look the exact same way in every classroom, rather it looks different between all depending on the subject and the students, just as students react toward their peers they react differently toward each of their teachers, and vice versa.  So, does respect necessarily mean the classroom is dead silent and every student is hurriedly scribbling down notes? No, it just means that everyone has the opportunity to learn something, including the teacher.

Respect in a classroom allows for a more equal chance to learn for all students.  For instance, if there's that one student (we've all had one) who just out right disrespects the teacher and yells out stupid things in class and makes a complete fool of themselves, he/she is detracting from the learning environment and disrespecting not only the teacher, but also his/her fellow peers.  However, disrespect from a student is far more tolerable in my opinion than a teacher being disrespectful towards a student.  Now, I realize I have already stated that if a teacher doesn't respect me I won't respect them, but I don't think as a teacher (as a person kids look up to, mostly) that it is ever right to disrespect a student whether provoked or not.  When that happens it creates an unpleasant environment and students will attempt to avoid the class at all costs.

Respect is always best established by doing exactly has the cliche says "treat others as you want to be treated."  A new teacher shouldn't walk in to a brand new class of students on the first day and be disrespectful towards them.  Bad first impression?  I think so!  However, if said teacher walked in with a positive attitude, a willingness to help, and an ability to communicate well with students on their level without belittling them or offending them; respect is automatically established.  Like everything else first impressions have a lot to do with how people react and interact with each other.  A good respectful impression is always the way to go!