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 Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 4:50 pm
Here’s the story:
A few months ago, as one of the top students in my particular class, I was invited to participate in a two-day program known as “S.P.I.R.I.T.” You’ll have to bear with me, as I’ve forgotten what the acronym stands for in the interim and I can’t seem to find a website.
Anyway, the purpose of this program was to gather students from all over the school in the different VoTech programs, and have a meeting. The purpose? The identify problems existing within our four different campuses, and as a group to identify possible solutions for these problems that the school could put into effect.
We split up into four groups on the first day and met in different areas of the school to discuss problems individually, and then met back up as a group to discuss what we’d come up with. We were prohibited from discussing possible solutions to these problems. A running theme through each group was a lack of respect, and it came in many forms: People making fun of the special education students, vandalism, theft, “bashing” of various groups and types of people, etc.
After each group had presented their lists, each person who participated was given four red stickers with which to mark the four problems that they thought were the most important to solve.
On the second day, we all split up into four different groups. Each group was given a set of problems which they were to come up with solutions for. My group was given the very vague “Lack of respect” problem, with all of its wonderful nuances and side-roads.
I guess my point is this: Together as a group, we came up with what I think is a wonderful solution.
First, we had to figure out what caused this well-recognized lack of respect in all of its forms. And, indeed, we found that there was a somewhat common bond. A lack of respect was generally caused by a dislike (I try and refrain from using the word “hate”) of a person or group of people. And generally speaking, dislike is caused by misunderstanding or fear.
So pretty much what it all boiled down to was this: People are disrespectful of others because they have not taken the time to try and understand one another. If one were to take the time to find the common bonds that they share with someone of a different race/culture/background than that of themselves, the world would be a much better place. If one were to take even more time, and explore all of the traditions and beliefs that make everyone different from one another, it would eliminate the fear and mistrust directed towards those that one doesn’t understand.
So here is my challenge to you, ED:
How can we as a race and a society put spurs to this idea?
How can we generate understanding and respect amongst all of the different cultures, views, and beliefs in this world?
Would this even really impact the problem?
Discuss.
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:03 pm
It would impact it, sure.
I took a class last semester called Psychology of Minorties. It was full of solutions to things like this. The main one being what you've stated: Get to know the people you don't.
How to do that, though, is the problem. Look at our society. People don't take the time out to get to know others. They don't understand that which is not them.
Maybe some manditory class on respect, and how to understand others or something. I'm not sure. Societally, something like this probably wouldn't fly.
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:18 pm
Sometimes when I'm trying to understand someone, they get mad at me. They don't want to be understood.
Does that mean they don't want respect?
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:26 pm
Rilian Sometimes when I'm trying to understand someone, they get mad at me. They don't want to be understood. Does that mean they don't want respect? I think you have to give respect to earn it. On the most basic level. Sadly, I can't use that in my daily life...or I'll be fired. I can't disrespect the kids because they disrespect me. So instead I try to show them what it looks like. You know, lead by example.
Learning respect as a society, I don't think is going to happen.
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:41 pm
I guess everyone deserved a bit of respect automatically.
And leading by example is the best thing to do around children.
The children probably act disrespectful towards you because they view you as just another adult and they are used to adults disrespecting them.
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:48 pm
Rilian I guess everyone deserved a bit of respect automatically. And leading by example is the best thing to do around children. The children probably act disrespectful towards you because they view as nothing more than an adult and they are used to adults disrespecting them. I agree completely. Their parents don't teach or show respect at all. What chance do I have?
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:52 pm
Ume Hotaru Rilian I guess everyone deserved a bit of respect automatically. And leading by example is the best thing to do around children. The children probably act disrespectful towards you because they view as nothing more than an adult and they are used to adults disrespecting them. I agree completely. Their parents don't teach or show respect at all. What chance do I have? Knowing that they come in handicapped, you have to be extra patient.
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:57 pm
Rilian Ume Hotaru Rilian I guess everyone deserved a bit of respect automatically. And leading by example is the best thing to do around children. The children probably act disrespectful towards you because they view as nothing more than an adult and they are used to adults disrespecting them. I agree completely. Their parents don't teach or show respect at all. What chance do I have? Knowing that they come in handicapped, you have to be extra patient. Yeah. They're actually doing better. They've seen what happens when they're nice and respectful. They're given responsiblities, at least the older kids are. It's getting better. Slowly, but surely.
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:02 pm
Ume Hotaru Rilian Ume Hotaru Rilian I guess everyone deserved a bit of respect automatically. And leading by example is the best thing to do around children. The children probably act disrespectful towards you because they view as nothing more than an adult and they are used to adults disrespecting them. I agree completely. Their parents don't teach or show respect at all. What chance do I have? Knowing that they come in handicapped, you have to be extra patient. Yeah. They're actually doing better. They've seen what happens when they're nice and respectful. They're given responsiblities, at least the older kids are. It's getting better. Slowly, but surely. The best responsibility to give a child is responsibility for himself. It, you know, makes him feel respected as an individual.
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:06 pm
Rilian Ume Hotaru Rilian Ume Hotaru Rilian I guess everyone deserved a bit of respect automatically. And leading by example is the best thing to do around children. The children probably act disrespectful towards you because they view as nothing more than an adult and they are used to adults disrespecting them. I agree completely. Their parents don't teach or show respect at all. What chance do I have? Knowing that they come in handicapped, you have to be extra patient. Yeah. They're actually doing better. They've seen what happens when they're nice and respectful. They're given responsiblities, at least the older kids are. It's getting better. Slowly, but surely. The best responsibility to give a child is responsibility for himself. It, you know, makes him feel respected as an individual. Yeah. It's hard where I work, though. We've got a 14 kids to 1 rec leader (which is me) ratio, with an average of 120 kids a day, and an average of 5 rec leaders at any given time. We can't give them much leeway.
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:08 pm
Ume Hotaru Yeah. It's hard where I work, though. We've got a 14 kids to 1 rec leader (which is me) ratio, with an average of 120 kids a day, and an average of 5 rec leaders at any given time. We can't give them much leeway. Leeway for what?
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:13 pm
Rilian Ume Hotaru Yeah. It's hard where I work, though. We've got a 14 kids to 1 rec leader (which is me) ratio, with an average of 120 kids a day, and an average of 5 rec leaders at any given time. We can't give them much leeway. Leeway for what? Leeway for personal responsibilities. I suppose they do get the validation, because they get to help us with the younger kids. Unfortunately, only a select few of them are willing to help us, and have responsibility. The other older kids are left being lumped with the younger kids, and no responsibilities, and tend to have a lack of respect.
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:16 pm
Ume Hotaru Rilian Ume Hotaru Yeah. It's hard where I work, though. We've got a 14 kids to 1 rec leader (which is me) ratio, with an average of 120 kids a day, and an average of 5 rec leaders at any given time. We can't give them much leeway. Leeway for what? Leeway for personal responsibilities. I suppose they do get the validation, because they get to help us with the younger kids. Unfortunately, only a select few of them are willing to help us, and have responsibility. The other older kids are left being lumped with the younger kids, and no responsibilities, and tend to have a lack of respect. No, I mean like, let them decide what they do for fun, when they go to the bathroom, when and what they eat, what they wear, who they talk to... let them make all the decisions adults expect to be allowed to make for themselves on a daily basis.
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:20 pm
Rilian Ume Hotaru Rilian Ume Hotaru Yeah. It's hard where I work, though. We've got a 14 kids to 1 rec leader (which is me) ratio, with an average of 120 kids a day, and an average of 5 rec leaders at any given time. We can't give them much leeway. Leeway for what? Leeway for personal responsibilities. I suppose they do get the validation, because they get to help us with the younger kids. Unfortunately, only a select few of them are willing to help us, and have responsibility. The other older kids are left being lumped with the younger kids, and no responsibilities, and tend to have a lack of respect. No, I mean like, let them decide what they do for fun, when they go to the bathroom, when and what they eat, what they wear, who they talk to... let them make all the decisions adults expect to be allowed to make for themselves on a daily basis. Mmm, I'd normally say that works, and to an extent it does...but our kids abuse things like that. We have a set number of activities to do a day, and the kids decide what one they do. Once a day all the kids are seperated by age group. The older kids are allowed to decide what to do, they always decide to sit and talk.
I was talking to one girl about it, she was a sixth grader at the time. She told me that when we give them an inch, they take a mile. And I'm pretty sure it's true with them.
I blame it on their parents, when I need something to blame. I work in the richest neighborhood in town, the riches kids' families enroll where I work. From what I know of most of their family situations, the parents are hardly ever around; hardly ever show respect to them.
Sorry if I start ranting. n.n;
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:47 pm
Why shouldn't they take a mile of personal freedom?
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Reply
