Want To Be A Teacher Today? No Thanks….

We had a little discussion on the radio this morning about this opinion piece from the Deseret News. There was a time in life when I was giving some serious consideration to going back to school, finishing my degree and then pursue a career in teaching. I love history, and thought it would be fun to discover our past with those who will shape our future. Today, no way would I want to be in the classroom.

There is little, if any, evidence of respect in many of our school rooms today. Not between students, not between students and teachers. It's a sorry path we are on.

And, I'd like to say that this is a problem not happening in our area, but based on the reports from both my wife and daughter, and from Chris's wife, who all work in the classrooms in southern Utah, disrespect is alive and well right here.

In my day if we were out of line in school it was not going to be a good day for us. And there was no appeal to out parents....they backed the teachers. And heaven help us when we got home.

Disrespect in the classroom can take many forms and can be damaging to both the teacher and other students. Disrespectful behavior can range from talking back to the teacher, interrupting the class, not following instructions, using offensive language, making derogatory remarks or gestures, and even physical aggression.

When a student displays disrespectful behavior in the classroom, it can undermine the teacher's authority and disrupt the learning environment for other students. It can also make it difficult for the teacher to effectively teach the lesson, as they may spend more time addressing the disruptive behavior instead of teaching the material.

Furthermore, disrespectful behavior can be harmful to the student themselves. It can lead to disciplinary action, including detention, suspension, or even expulsion. This can have long-lasting consequences, affecting their academic performance and future opportunities.

To address disrespectful behavior in the classroom, it is important for teachers to be able to establish clear expectations and consequences for behavior at the beginning of the school year. Teachers should model respectful behavior and communicate expectations for how students should treat each other and the teacher. If a student displays disrespectful behavior, the teacher should address it promptly and firmly, but also with compassion and understanding.

It is important to note that disrespectful behavior in the classroom is often a symptom of a larger issue, such as a lack of engagement, academic struggles, or emotional distress. Teachers should work to identify the root cause of the behavior and address it with appropriate support and resources.

Now please don't misunderstand what I'm suggesting here. I'm not asking for a return to corporal punishment in schools. I'm not suggesting an open door for teachers to belittle or brow beat students. Nor am I suggesting that teachers are without fault. Like everyone else they are human and can make mistakes in disciplinary action. But I am suggesting that we should allow and support our teachers in having order and, yes, appropriate discipline in their classrooms. By doing so, teachers can create a safe and positive learning environment for all students.