FOR TEACHERS — IDEAS ON TEACHING RESPECT
Much negative youth behavior — such as class disruption, vandalism, and
even violence — show a lack of respect for others. Often, though, by this
disrespect, young people are seeking respect for themselves from their own
peer group. Often this is done by showing disrespect for adult authority.
Sometimes such actions are part of a struggle for respect in the peer group.
In the mass murders at Columbine High School, the two youthful assassins
were trying to regain respect (in the face of adolescent insults) by a
demonstration of the ultimate disrespect for people's lives.
We believe it is possible to persuade young people to give others the respect
they so desperately want themselves. Teaching respect will also reduce
bigotry, prejudice and hatred, which cause people in many groups to live
with disrespect every day of their lives.
For the most part, we are not asking you to add new books or new material,
just to emphasize parts of the subject, which inherently deal with respect.
You might also wish to have class discussion in these areas. Here are
examples of what can be done in different courses. You might come up with
better ideas yourself. Let us know how our suggestions work out or any
suggestions you may have. Write us at P.O. Box 03015, Detroit, Michigan
48203 or call us at (313) 866-1970.
LITERATURE: Literature often involves efforts of characters to gain
respect, either wisely or foolishly. We are listing a few examples that
are familiar to most teachers. You will probably find similar ones in your
own courses. Was Pip in Great Expectations trying to gain respect from
others by rejecting himself, his roots and those he loved? Were the Montagues
and Capulets in Romeo and Juliet trying to win respect by tearing each other
down? Were Shakespeare's Richard the Third or Dickens' Uriah Heep seeking
respect through grabbing power. Love stories often touch on questions of
respect (and disrespect) between men and women. Writings by minorities like
Ralph Ellison's The Invisible Man, James Baldwin's The Fire Next Time and
Ishamel Reed's Writing is Fighting often involve a struggle for respect
and efforts to find inner strength to deal with the experience of continuous
disrespect. It gives students greater for this.
CIVICS AND SOCIAL STUDIES: Many aspects of our legal system involve
efforts to assure people receive respect. Our constitutional process of
checks and balances, for instance, seeks to prevent any one branch of
government from being powerful enough to show an arrogant disrespect for
the other branches and for individual rights. Teachers may raise the question
whether such measures sometimes break down leaving some citizens and some
groups falling through the cracks.
HISTORY: How many times has history been affected by struggle for respect
and denials of respect? In Athens, how did Pericles' democratic reforms
win respect for grassroots people? However, did he have a disrespect for
other Greek city states, leading him to highhanded actions that aroused their
hostility and ultimately lead to Athens' defeat. How much of U.S. history
concerns groups coming to America seeking respect, but often denying it to
others, such as Native Americans, Black people and later immigrants? African
and African American History provides many opportunities to increase
self-respect for Black students and other students' respect for them.
HEALTH classes might arouse particular interest by examining and
discussing respect between boys and girls in dating situations. There might
also be discussions of cliques or bullying and teasing. HEALTH and PEACE
classes or other subjects might examine mediation or conflict resolution
as a way of settling disputes with respect for all. PHYSICAL EDUCATION
instructors might discuss sportmanship and how this involves respect for
those who lose or make mistakes in games. MUSIC classes might include some
songs dealing with respect. There could also be reports assigned or bulletin
boards addressing respect.
PRINTED BY RESPECT MONTH COMMITTEE, P.O. Box 0301, Detroit, Michigan 48203
(313) 866-1970
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