| I was reading an article by Denise Witmer about | | | | sometimes find myself eavesdropping as I listen to |
| reasons why teens need fair and firm discipline. One | | | | parents discussing schools and teachers and I realize |
| of the reasons for it teaches our children to respect | | | | that parents instill rudeness in children. Some parents |
| adults and those in authority. I think this carries a lot | | | | are relentless and uncivil in their attitudes towards the |
| of weight and it is truly something some parents | | | | people in the teaching profession. They feel that |
| neglect to do. | | | | they have spent years raising their children and |
| There are so many teens that are belligerent, | | | | therefore know more about teaching than the |
| disrespectful and who show absolutely no respect for | | | | teachers who have ten to twenty years of |
| adults. I stand in my classroom with a variety of | | | | experience in the classroom. Courtesy, consideration, |
| personalities to work with each day and I find there | | | | tolerance and respect for teachers begin at home. |
| are always a few teens that have no regard for their | | | | But if parents are disgracefully lacking in their |
| peers or teachers. They will humiliate, offend, show | | | | attitudes, how can we expect their children to be |
| offensive signals and simply refuse to obey even the | | | | different. |
| simplest of rules. | | | | At home and in class some teens are authoritative, |
| I always start the school year with three basic rules: | | | | loud and insincere; selfish, proud and domineering; |
| Come in, sit down and be quiet. With a lot of effort | | | | condescending, challenging and argumentative. Some |
| the first rule takes up - at most - six of the forty | | | | teens spend hours of leisure in the company of noise, |
| minutes I have to teach my subject. As far as sitting | | | | bad language, obscene gestures, insincerity, crude |
| down is concerned, there will always be teens that | | | | conduct, rebelliousness and blatant addictions. It's |
| sit down for intervals, but never for forty minutes. | | | | acceptable to many because times have changed. |
| Quiet! Well, while I teach, I find myself distracted | | | | We are living in a liberated society with less moral |
| many a time because of teens that cannot sit still | | | | restrictions. |
| and listen. These are simple rules but difficult | | | | Parents should think carefully about their children. |
| challenges. | | | | Being a responsible parent means helping your children |
| Either respect for adults and authority is instilled in | | | | to become adults who treat others with respect and |
| children or ... it's not. Standing in a supermarket, I | | | | kindness. |