Saturday, September 11, 2010
Respect
Respect, as defined in the dictionary, is a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. However, I think that respect can mean so much more than that. Respect can be a feeling for someone, simply for nothing. Respecting someone who you don't even know can be the hardest thing to do without knowing any of their abilities, qualities, or achievements. This issue can be seen very clearly in a classroom environment. A group of students can walk into a classroom without knowing that teacher ever before in their life, and be required and expected in fact to give them respect. So respect is so much more than just knowing someone, it's not knowing them as well. Respect needs to be very clearly established in a classroom environment, I don't know necessarily if not smiling till Christmas is always the best option. I believe it is important to establish yourself between someone's friend, and their mom/dad. Most people will respect their parents (at times) but maybe not listen to them, while they will also listen to their friends, but not always respect them going behind their back spreading rumors. If you can establish yourself as a person who needs to be listened to as well as respected by demonstrating good listening as well as teaching skills, you'll be able to smile in class without kids walking all over you.
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Hi Justin, (I'm Jim's student aid, in case he hasn't "virtually" introduced me to your class yet; he gave me permission to read/comment on your guys' blogs
ReplyDeleteI like how you explore multiple meanings of the word "respect." It's kind of one of those lofty terms that we hear people (especially teachers) talk about, without ever really grasping its implications. You write about two different types of respect: 1.) an admiration for someone (as per your dictionary) and 2.) one's being able to follow the Golden Rule - treat others (that means everyone) how you want to be treated. I'd say both of these definitions are used by people on a regular basis, although they're pretty different. The first one is conditional: the person must possess some type of admiral quality. The second is unconditional: do unto others as you would like for them to do to you. Can these two definitions be reconciled? Can you HAVE respect for a select group of people, while SHOWING respect to everyone?