Re-establishing Respect?

Respecting students is one of the classroom cultures that is less discussed among teachers. This results teachers to be inclined to treat their students at times with little to no respect. Worst, in many schools and classrooms, little commitment has been taken either by administrators or educators to foster an environment of respect in school which should start with teachers respecting the students. 

Classroom culture: a culture when the members of the classroom the physical environment, the schedule and the approaches to instruction work together in harmony

(Children's Literacy Initiative, 2017)

Malaysian students, for instance, are frequently reminded to give respect to teachers because many of Malaysian cultural practices which are inherited from the past emphasis on the need to look upon elders and teachers with respect. However, none is mentioned about respecting the young as the Malay saying goes; Yang tua dihormati, yang muda disayangi. Therefore, it is not shocking that in schools, some teachers swear and curse at their the students all because they care and love them.

"You do not know my students!"

Teachers are human and I have to admit that there are many who are burned out, unhappy, stressed and resentful. When having little respect towards students, teachers especially those who constantly have to deal with struggling students with developing problem reputations have greater  tendency to treat the students with greater impatience. Hence, it has become a normal scenario where a group (or sometimes the same group) of students are pointed out and shamed in public, during assembly or in the teacher's room when many teachers are there. Teachers have to bear in mind that they play a significant role as a role model of socio-emotional skills to students. Losing or not having any respect to students as their client and human would make it hard for teachers to contain the negative feelings they may have towards students. 

Dr Maszlee Malik, the Education Ministry, quoted by Arumugam (The Star, June 3rd 2018), mentioned three cultures that should be inculcated and popularised among educational practitioners which are happiness, love and mutual respect. It is interesting that the word 'mutual' is embedded there. It might have been the case that there's REALLY a lot less respect in schools today.

Changing the mindset of one teacher can change the social experience of that child's entire world

Jason A. Okonofua

The key to establishing respect is empathy. The concept of empathy is not new but teachers tend to lose sight of the concept especially during tense moments conflicts. It is not always easy but all interactions with students should be in a positive manner as a sign of respecting them. Respecting students might be hard and challenging yet respecting them is one of the important keys to successful learning and teaching besides being able to create an effective and supportive learning environment.

This is a call for teachers to stop berating, cursing and embarrassing students. Respect is always the key. It is earned so you should stop asking for it. However, for sure there’s a way to be respected. It is to respect people first. Being older, being the ones who are cursed with knowledge or being at higher positions are not the reasons to why you should have less or none respect to people.

We are too loud discussing about the 21st century learning environment. We're too excited about re-decorating, re-designing and buying expensive technologies. But how can we miss out one of its important principles which is to ensure a learning environment that celebrates and respect students, families and communities?  

References:

Children's Literacy Initiative (2017). Classroom culture. Retrieved on July 5th 2018 from https://cli.org/resource/classroom-culture-2/

Arumugam, T. (June 3rd 2018). Happiness, love and mutual respect, key to positive learning environment. The Star. Retrieved on July 5th 2018 from https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/06/376280/happiness-love-and-mutual-respect-key-positive-learning-environment.