I was driving in my car one day and was staring at the five bumper stickers that were on the car in front of me. One of the bumper stickers made a lot of sense, it said, “If you can read this thank a teacher.” I never had to be reminded of this when I was a kid, I always thanked my teachers but, more importantly I respected my teachers. I didn’t have a choice I had to be respectful, I didn’t even think twice. I found out very early on as a student that before I had a chance to be successful academically I had to stay in my seat, not talk back, and do what I was told when I was told to do it. I realized that if I made any attempt to complain about my teachers my parents weren’t hearing it which really benefited me as a student. Today if a kid goes home and starts to complain about his teacher, instead of the parents saying do what you’re told, they can almost begin to complain right along with their kid planting seeds of disrespect in the child’s head that ultimately will interfere with the child’s academic success. Kids who sense a division of authority between their parents and the school go to school everyday with a poor attitude, and are being programmed for a lifetime of educational as well as employment related problems.
As a teacher and administrator myself I have watched the decline of respect in education today. It’s almost as if society wants to muzzle the teacher from saying what needs to be said to a student that will help the student improve academically. Teachers have to measure every word and if constructive suggestion is offered to a student by a teacher it is viewed by the student and his parents as an insult that is going to damage the kids’ self-esteem for a lifetime.
As a high school student I was no different than any other kid in school and I tried to get away with as much as possible and always looked to cut corners academically. I was a freshman in high school and I turned in a history assignment to my social studies teacher. This was an assignment that was assigned two weeks prior. I worked on it the night before it was due. Within a day or two the teacher handed the assignment back to the class. My assignment was not returned but, he asked to see me after class. I met with him and he said to me, “What is this, is this all you are capable of, Jimmy you can’t b— s—- a b—- s——.” I was shocked and embarrassed, and hung my head. Finally I looked at him and said, “Can I do it over?” He said, “Can you? Are you capable of better work?” I worked on it again with his help and turned it in again and received a B for the assignment. I developed a tremendous relationship with this teacher, and respected him because he didn’t feel as if he had to measure his words. I had a high regard for this man’s opinion, and didn’t even think twice about trying this again.
Unfortunately if a teacher tries to do this today, the kid usually goes home, tell his parents and a meeting is arranged to question or berate the teacher. The sad part is that this allowed to go on, and it is very common place in education and in society today. Schools today are constantly on the hot seat to improve test scores, reduce the drop out rate, and to be in compliance with federally mandated programs that provide government funds. Everyday on the news deviant behavior is reported in schools with bullying and school shootings almost becoming common place. Society wants to level the ground, and create an environment where no one is in charge and authority figures can’t even offer constructive suggestion to students and employees to help improve their performance, and are muzzled by the same systems that judge their abilities. The only way students will be successful academically is when everyone involved in the educational process learns to respect the human delivery system, the teacher.
Aretha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0
