Respect
February 2, 2016, 9:33 pm
I recently heard some pundit on National Public Radio say that we need to start teaching respect and moral values in our public schools. I started to seethe. The fallacy and intended manipulation inherent in those words is worthy of Fox News.
I have spent 50 years of my working life in hundreds of schools; public and private, rich, poor and middle class. In every school I have worked as a staff member or visiting educator, values are being taught in all classrooms on a daily basis. And private schools have not cornered the market on value based education.
I believe the reason outrageous statements about “no values” in our public school classrooms isn’t instantly challenged has an explanation. Many Americans, even parents, have never observed a class in action and many of them think teaching is easy……..anybody can do it.
There is a cure for this magical thinking. Just imagine yourself walking into any classroom, K to 12. Thirty children (or more) are in the room, plus you. Your job is to educate each and every one of them.
The children come from diverse backgrounds. The parenting skills of their families range from non existent to excellent. No education can happen in this room if you can’t establish order and respect, in other words, a moral foundation to create a small community of children working for the benefit of the individual as well as the group.
Schools teach values in order to be functioning schools. When people rant about “no values” in our public schools, they really mean “my ideology isn’t being promoted”.
The Golden Rule is the operating rule in our classrooms. Unfortunately, it is no longer the operating rule in our public discourse. Teaching children values that the society does not promote is an uphill battle. Bravo to all our teachers who keep championing fairness, decency, civility and respect.
Image: theodysseyonline.com
6 Comments for this entry
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The Suitcase Lady Blog is now in its thirteenth year. I am obviously a believer in these words from E. B. White. "We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry." Thank you for reading the writing that I delight in doing.
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February 2nd, 2016 on 10:15 PM
. . . Especially on Fox News . . .
February 2nd, 2016 on 10:27 PM
Amen!And thank you!
February 3rd, 2016 on 7:52 AM
Really, these ideas could apply to most situations. But yes, especially to classrooms. And retail stores, lol!
February 3rd, 2016 on 10:37 AM
Republicans just want to privatize and make public schools into Religious schools. The schools they gave money to are mostly Catholic here. Some are Lutheran and “Christian” schools. When they say God should be in schools , that is what they mean.
February 3rd, 2016 on 11:54 AM
Carol, I agree – Rant: Religion is used to control the thoughts and activities of others. Many human qualities that respond to singing, meditation, focus, and ceremony are used by cult/religious leaders to steer their dues-paying flock in the right direction. Interestingly, the idea that one’s god is good because it won’t harm his flock after they die is the most conniving thing in the world: take their money while alive and promise not to hurt them after they are dead! Anyway, these politicians want to be in charge and have identified an easy base from which to grasp support. Dogma does not require research or improvement, so with it, who needs education anyway? Looks like that may be, in deed, god’s will . . .
February 3rd, 2016 on 2:14 PM
I seriously thought the golden rule was, the people with all the gold make all the rules.