Have you ever heard your parents or teachers say that you should “respect others?” You have probably done this already by saying “thank you,” holding the door open for someone, or listening to your teacher’s instructions. But what does respect really mean? Respect means to accept others as they are, even if they are different from you, and to treat them the way you would want to be treated. Sometimes it can be difficult to respect others because we may not always agree with them or think the same way as them. However, respect is a quality that you will need to be successful in your future. Those that give respect to others often get respect back. By showing respect to others, you can help contribute to creating a world that is fair for everyone.
There are many ways to show respect for others. You can do this by being kind, actively listening, and including others. How you show respect for others will depend on their age and relationship with you. Being respectful to your parents and teachers might look different from being respectful to a sibling or someone in your class. With parents and teachers, do your best to listen to them, even if you do not agree, and try to understand their point of view. You can do your best to be polite and lend a helping hand if needed. In class, you can show respect for your teachers by actively listening and asking questions. This shows your teachers that you are paying attention to what they have to say, which respects their role in the classroom. You may notice that if you start to do these actions, you will have an easier time communicating with them. To show respect to those your own age, such as classmates or siblings, you can also actively listen and be polite. Another way to show respect is to be kind to others by not participating in bullying behavior. You can be a fair team player on your sports teams and at recess, and you can go out of your way to get to know the new kid in your class. You can work to include others that usually are left out. If you have ever been left out of a group, you may know that it is not the best feeling. By including others, we show that we accept them and want them to feel a part of a team. These are just some ways that you can show respect for others. What other ways can you think of?
Respecting others can be difficult to do, especially if we do not agree with them or they are different than us. Even though it can be difficult, it is a quality you must work on to improve. You will notice that the more you respect others, the more respectfully you will be treated. Make it a goal to practice these behaviors and brainstorm how you can show respect to others going forward.
//Valerie Jordan
Midwestern University Clerk
References
Malti, T., Peplak, J., & Zhang, L. (2020). The development of respect in children and adolescents. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 85(3), 7-9. https://doi-org.mwu.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/mono.12417
Takeda, S., Matsuo, R., & Ohtsuka, M. (2021). Effects of a classroom-based assertion training program for Japanese junior high school students. Internation Journal of Education Research Open, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2021.100108
Van Rooyen, L. & Le Roux, J. (2000). Teaching respect: a philosophical analysis. Koers: Bulletin for Christian Scholarship, 65(2). https://doi.org/10.4102/koers.v65i2.474
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