Middle School Aged Students Have a Lot to Learn About Respect
As I sit here waiting patiently for this group of middle schools to quiet down so I can take attendance, I am immediately jettisoned back in time to when I was this age.
Yes, we had our trouble makers and class clowns, but when our teacher asked for quiet, we gave her what she wanted; she didn't have to ask twice.
Why did we give her absolute quiet? It was because we DID NOT want our parents to find out we'd been disrespectful.
I was more afraid of my punishment at home than any punishment the school could dish out.
Today, however, we live in a society where most students this age have been brought up by young parents who would rather be their child's friend instead of the child's parent, parents too afraid to discipline their children for a myriad of reasons.
And, it's with this same thought process that parents will blame the school and teachers for "Johnny's" bad grades and attitudes.
Parents are quick to riddle their children with drugs and make excuses for their children's behavior.
"Oh, it's not Johhny's fault he didn't listen to you or do his homework, he has ________ (insert disease of the week here).
I'm not saying that A.
D.
D or its brother, A.
D.
H.
D aren't factors making your child struggle, but you can teach them common courtesy, manners, respect, and hold them accountable when they slip.
This generation of young people feel entitled to everything and throw tantrums and show disrespect when they don't get their way in life, and that's just sad because they have not been taught how to handle rejection, failure, and defeat.
After all, every child since the late eighties has earned a trophy or reward for just showing up.
We don't want to hurt their feelings.
I hope the days soon return when we only play the best athletes on the team and only reward those who truly come in first place.
But, we can't do this until we start keeping score again.
Maybe having your child realize that he won't play until he dedicates himself and gets better will help you teach him how to lose gracefully and show respect when it's asked for and deserved.
Otherwise, you might need a lot of bail money in the next few years.
Oh, and a really good lawyer on speed dial, too.
Raise your children properly so the government doesn't have to later.
Yes, we had our trouble makers and class clowns, but when our teacher asked for quiet, we gave her what she wanted; she didn't have to ask twice.
Why did we give her absolute quiet? It was because we DID NOT want our parents to find out we'd been disrespectful.
I was more afraid of my punishment at home than any punishment the school could dish out.
Today, however, we live in a society where most students this age have been brought up by young parents who would rather be their child's friend instead of the child's parent, parents too afraid to discipline their children for a myriad of reasons.
And, it's with this same thought process that parents will blame the school and teachers for "Johnny's" bad grades and attitudes.
Parents are quick to riddle their children with drugs and make excuses for their children's behavior.
"Oh, it's not Johhny's fault he didn't listen to you or do his homework, he has ________ (insert disease of the week here).
I'm not saying that A.
D.
D or its brother, A.
D.
H.
D aren't factors making your child struggle, but you can teach them common courtesy, manners, respect, and hold them accountable when they slip.
This generation of young people feel entitled to everything and throw tantrums and show disrespect when they don't get their way in life, and that's just sad because they have not been taught how to handle rejection, failure, and defeat.
After all, every child since the late eighties has earned a trophy or reward for just showing up.
We don't want to hurt their feelings.
I hope the days soon return when we only play the best athletes on the team and only reward those who truly come in first place.
But, we can't do this until we start keeping score again.
Maybe having your child realize that he won't play until he dedicates himself and gets better will help you teach him how to lose gracefully and show respect when it's asked for and deserved.
Otherwise, you might need a lot of bail money in the next few years.
Oh, and a really good lawyer on speed dial, too.
Raise your children properly so the government doesn't have to later.
Source...