We Wander In The Gray Abyss

I guess everyone has reasons for doing or saying certain things and behaving in ways that are hurtful, disrespectful, irresponsible and just down right inappropriate. Understanding these reasons help us as teachers set reasonable expectations for our students. The problems begin when these reasons become excuses. When student behaviors such as disrespect and emotional cruelty are attributed to poor genetics, or environmental short comings are left uncorrected, by default we communicate to the student that we agree with the behavior. Disrespect is not a condition it is a learned behavior, and students must be held accountable for their actions. Bullying should never be justified or excused because of poor genetics or negative environmental influences. Respect can always be taught with the imposition of the right consequences. Always let your students know that BULLYING IS WRONG AND IT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!

Notice From The Bench

If behaviors like disrespect and irresponsibility are allowed to continue without any consequences they will morph into other more intense behaviors and will begin at an earlier age. Some children today already know how to give the finger, use profanity, and defy authority at the age of five years old. We can blame circumstance if we want, and there may be many reasons for certain behaviors when we excuse them the child is set up for a lifetime of misery and failure. Everyone knows where we are right now. It took us 20 years to get here. Where do we want to be at the end of the next 20 years?