Lessons Learned…
Disrespect.
Rampant.
Pervasive. Epidemic. A malignancy. Disrespect, it surely seems, is the MO of
today, and its insidious presence in classrooms, in locker rooms, in homes, and
in most every interpersonal interaction among all ages, is tragic, immature,
and growing. Its obnoxious presence dominates every setting in which it is
allowed. Disrespect is the new neighborhood bully whose unrelenting selfishness
very meanly distracts and destroys the direction of a gentle soul. Just today,
I read of another broken-hearted teacher throwing in the towel on education
because of the uncontrollable rudeness of students. Students are not the sole
possessors of a disrespectful demeanor, however, for disappointingly, we adults
all around them are flagrantly modeling this distasteful and atrocious behavior
as well. Shouting at refs, demanding rule changes to suit personal
circumstances, brazenly and constantly talking back, rolling the eyes,
sarcastic remarks, an above the law attitude, an excuse for every act of
non-compliance, a sneer to meet genuineness and humility, a spirit of laughing
at, an unasked for opinion to make all decisions the matter of a personal
committee, a loud dogmatic voice that hears only itself; all of these and countless more are mere
symptoms of a deeper malady; an inner discontentedness,
a distrust, an over-inflated ego due to a desperately diminished self-esteem, a
cry to be noticed or heard. Disrespect
will not go away if it is ignored, because somewhere deeply imbedded in disrespect’s
DNA it’s itching to fight and will not stand down until it is challenged and
put in its place. It resembles an alpha dog syndrome, where the leader is unmistakably
identified and leads, despite efforts of wannabes to assume the lead. Disrespect
simply cannot be allowed, for everything about it smacks of a breakdown of
order and fully impedes accomplishment. When we speak of being committed to
student learning, we would be remiss to avoid addressing and nipping the
culture of disrespect which will most assuredly undermine even the best of best
practices. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Gentleness. Self-control. A display of
manners. Selflessness. Generosity. Graciousness. Humility. Can these be taught?
Our students truly need to learn them. Demonstrating these attributes will
boost students’ self-esteem and success and radically enhance accomplishment in
the classroom, on the field, and in life. Don’t we desire this for them? Respect
must be expected and demanded. Trust must be earned.
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