"R-E-S-P-E-C-T"

Recently I spoke to a couple of classes at a middle school. It was fun for me and I hope the students got something out of it too. My talk was about "serendipities" and how good things sometimes just fall into your lap. We hear so much about the bad things these days that I wanted these kids to hear something optimistic and positive.

While I was at the school I noticed how strict the faculty is when it comes to keeping these kids in line. When I questioned it I was told that is how things are these days. If you show the slightest weakness then you are lost. So the teacher keeps solid control of his/her class and spontaneity and exuberance just aren't allowed.

This visit to the modern school system made me think back to my days in school. Now I know that was in another century and in a somewhat different world, but it wasn't that long ago. Still it might as well have been back in the Dark Ages. 

When I went to school the teacher ruled the classroom, but she (most of my teachers were female) was a benevolent dictator. The main thing I remember about most of my teachers was how much they loved being teachers and how much they loved their classes. Now this was not a matter of a teacher actually coming out and saying that she loved us, but it was evident in the way we were treated.

And we loved our teachers. And what is more important, we respected our teachers. They got our respect because they were older than us, smarter than us, kinder than us. They taught by example in a lot of instances, and we admired them for who and what they were.

I think teachers today operate in an atmosphere of fear. Many are actually physically afraid of their students and in some instances that is well deserved. I also think teachers fear the administration because they feel their jobs are constantly on the line. It is strange that we hear how there is a shortage of teachers, yet teachers constantly fear they will be fired or their contracts will not be picked up for another year.

Fear can also manifest itself by teachers thinking their administrative staff will not back them up in a contest between the student and the teacher. When I was in school the teacher was always presumed to be in the right. Now that is often not the case. I know I have heard parents of students talking and generally if there is a problem at school they wonder what the teacher is not doing that he/she should be doing. It is rare when it is presumed the student is not fulfilling his/her end of the bargain.

Respect needs to come back into the classroom. There needs to be respect for the teacher and the position he/she is in. The old presumption of "the teacher is right" should be re-instituted. A presumption does not mean a decision is absolute, but it puts the burden of proof on the student and I think in ninety nine per cent of cases that is where it should be.

Surely there must be some way of getting the joy of learning back in schools, plus the joy of being a student. The school years should be days of enjoyment and learning. Somehow to me it all comes down to getting respect back in the academic halls. But maybe that is too simplistic.

 

 

 

 

 

©2006 Jackie K. Cooper

Click above to find out more about Jackie's books!