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Influences on Respect

The development of respect in our children is affected by a number of different factors.  As usual there is never just one thing that is going to be the difference maker.  Generally there will be a number of influences that affect this part of character development in our students.

  1. Seeing respectful behavior modeled.
  2. The trust factor (kids trust of adults)
  3. Role models our children have
  4. Language that our kids are exposed to
  5. Effect of the media and what is accepted as ‘normal’
  6. How are children are treated

If you would like to read some thoughts about influences on respect, Click here.
The good news is respect can be taught to our children.  Respect is really based on that golden rule of treating others the way we want to be treated.  When they learn that everyone has the right to be treated in a positive and caring way, they are also learning that they can and should respect themselves too.
How can we help our children understand the meaning, value and behaviors of respect?  Their success in every arena of their life is dependent on making respect a part of their lives without our prompting and reinforcement.  During the rest of this month I will post some ways that we can teach respect to our children and students.

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The crisis of disrespect

Every relationship, interaction and communication should begin and end with respect.  Respect is about treating others as we would have them treat us in the same situation. It’s reflected in the way we speak and act, the way we treat our family, friends, environment and community, and the way we regard the rights, ideas and property of others.  It’s also the way we treat ourselves; since when we can see and celebrate our own strengths and values, it is easier to respect the value in others.
Respect is the cornerstone of moral behavior.  It tells us that everybody has the right to be treated with respect, courtesy, and consideration.  Yet in a survey done by the NY Times, 93% of responding adults believed that parents have failed to teach children honesty, respect, and responsibility. Most would agree that there is a crisis of disrespect in the world today, and while there is no one factor that is responsible for this, there are a few that have contributed greatly to situation.  What they are and what we can do about will be in later posts.

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Respect

Young students

Respect means “I treat others the way I want them to treat me”

Older students, teens, adults:

Respect means showing appreciation for the value in ourselves and others.
“Treating others the way you want to be treated.”

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September Community Service

The BLS community service project for September will be a part of a project just launched by Balanced Life Skills. This project is called Help a Teacher. The Help a Teacher website is open for all schools, public and private and their teachers, to post the needs and wishes for individual teachers and their classroom.
Many teachers in our county reach into their own pocket and provide supplies for their classroom. I have personally never felt that this was fair or right for the teachers, who are very dedicated but are often times under paid. This initiative is an extension of my belief that many individuals contributing in small ways can accomplish bigger and greater deeds.

You may participate in a number of ways.

The request by BLS to support this month is the supply of used books for Bates Middle School. If you click here you will see the request made by this teacher. If you can help, please just bring your books either here to the school or you can deliver them to Bates directly.

Other ways you can participate are by:

  • Notifying all teachers about this website and service
  • Notifying all PTA’s to encourage teachers and parents to visit the site to see what they can do.
  • Hand out the Help a Teacher business cards to business’, employees, employers and anyone who may be able to help.

All of the donations by others should be delivered directly to the school and teacher if possible and not brought here to Balanced Life Skills. We are working at creating a community that is involved with each other and supporting the ultimate goal of giving our students the best education that we can.

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Chesapeake Ecology Center Open House

The Chesapeake Ecology Center has invited us to attend their Garden Open House and Native Plant Sale on Saturday September 6th.  For some of our students who have been here for a few years, you may remember we helped clean up and weed several of the gardens here at this site a couple of years ago.  The Executive Director, Zora Lathan, is a dedicated gardner and teacher of ecological gardening.
Guided tours of the gardens and native plants will take place at 11 AM and Noon.
This will be held at:  Chesapeake Ecology Center
Adams Academy
245 Clay Street
Annapolis, MD
Directions:  Rowe Blvd.,  Turn right on Taylor Avenue, Turn left on Glenwood  and follow to the parking lot for Adams Academy on the left.  For more information 410-212-4506

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No Classes Held

Title: No Classes Held
Description: No Classes will be held from August 30 through September 2nd. The office will be open on Tuesday September 2nd but there will be no classes held. Mr. Joe will be returning from Boston that day from taking his son to college.
Start Date: 2008-08-29
End Date: 2008-09-02

September 2nd will be Mr. Doug’s first day of school too!!