If you are a new teacher, please do not sabotage your career by making the biggest mistake most teachers make when they first start teaching. What mistake is that you ask? It’s being hypocrite. Ouch! I know that’s harsh, but allow me to explain.
One of the most common question I get asked during my teacher training workshops is, “What can we do to get our students to be more respect?” In other words, many educators complain that many students talk back, misbehave and “act out” with little regard for the teacher and/or his or her classmates. My first response to this question is, “What have you done to earn their respect”?
The truth is…times have changed. Long gone are the days when a teacher’s presence alone demanded respect- from students as well as parents. Today, in a society where good morals are on the decline, while self-centeredness is on the incline, we can’t afford to educate students like our teachers once did “back in the day”. We have to get respect the hard way; we have to earn it.
I think one of the best ways to earn a student’s respect in the classroom is by becoming the kind of person your students want to become. Put another way, if your students don’t want “to become” you, then you don’t need “to be” there. We’re talking about integrity. Whenever we promote success to students without first modeling it, then we’re seen as hypocrites in their eyes, even if they don’t admit it. In addition, we lose credibility in the classroom.
I personally believe that as teachers, others should want what we have. I’m not talking about material possessions, position, power or perceived status; I’m talking about good character. Character is something that money can’t buy but everyone admires and respect – even if they don’t like you personally. This is one of the most basic principles to successful teaching; however, it’s one of the most difficult lessons for us to learn as teachers.
The truth of the matter is, whenever we (as teachers) step into a classroom or in front of a group of students (especially middle and high school students), they are already “sizing us up” to see how will they treat and respond to us. If you don’t believe me, that only means you’ve never been a substitute teacher or you’ve never had one.
By: Jonathan P. Tabbun | T-III | Mariveles National High School-Poblacion | Mariveles,Bataan
