Saturday, October 31, 2009
Please Do NOT Move Duriing the Anthem
I understand that it is a tradition and a great one at that that we are to stand respectful and still for the National Anthem. Me and a fellow teacher were at an away football game and two of our cheerleaders were slowly walking backwards still facing the flag to try to get back to their post on time. Apparently, there was only one bathroom on the home side at this stadium and they were trying to hurry to get back. My fellow teacher, which is my age and has never served in the military, began to ream them out for how disrespectful they were. He informed them he was going to turn them in to their coach. Ok, as I said at the top, we need to respect the flag and what it stands for, but I think this situation could have been turned into a teaching moment instead of a reprimand moment. These are not bad girls. I think they are both straight A students. They are never in trouble. If he had not spoke first, I would have called the girls over and explained to them how important it should be for them to show respect for our nation and the soldiers who died to make us free. You know, maybe some sappy story. Something to make them think. Again, I don't think they were trying to be disrespectful. We know those kind of kids. I would have probably lit into them myself if it was one of them. Again, I think as educators and leaders, we have to evaluate the students and the situation before we react. A lot of times that is easier said than done. In a couple of years when I am not so new to this, I may find myself in a situation where I am being the jerk and don't realize it. I hope this illustration comes to my mind and I put myself back in check.
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3 comments:
I agree some of the students do not even know what the flag stands for they do not have a clue students have to be educated about the flag some of them missed it in school.
Dwayne,
I agree with you about the teaching moments. I have realized that punishing students is usually not effective in preventing them from doing it again. My mom always said that when she spanked me, I would never cry but if I knew she was disappointed in me, I would be devistated. I think it is the same thing with students. If we show compassion towards their reasoning but explain why another decision would have been better, then they get it. If we just scream and yell at them, then they just get mad and don't learn a thing from it.
I hope that we don't get that way in time. I always worry what I am going to be like 10 years into teaching. I hope that our spirits can stay high.
As I was reading your post, I was visualizing a couple of teachers that I have taught with in the past. I don't really understand why, but there are some teachers who seem to be just waiting to catch someone doing something wrong. I don't believe anything is accomplished with that attitude. I know that some days I have more patience and tolerance with students than on other days, but I don't think I ever just go off on them! I can remember having a teacher like that when I was in high school. I had no respect for the man. I did not value his opinion and I did not learn a thing from him (except that I didn't want to be like him). I really wish that you had been given the opportunity to talk to those students and really teach them the importance of being respectful! How can we expect students to be respectful if we treat them with no respect?
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