Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful...
~1 Corinthians 13: 4-5
Dare 5: Love is not Rude
"Nothing irritates others as quickly as being rude. Rudeness is unnecessarily saying or doing things that are unpleasant for another person to be around. To be rude is to act unbecoming, embarrassing, or irritating."
I don't know about the rest of you, but I teach 7th grade. Translate that to I am constantly surrounded by all that is rudeness. It is SO easy for me to respond rudely.
When I get frustrated by a rude student and respond in a similar manner, I am only letting them know that somehow I believe that their behavior is acceptable, and possibly even expected. I think this is one of my biggest failures at being a good role model for my students. Not that I am horribly rude to them, but I know they see me react in snide ways. I sure hope when I have kids that they don't have teachers modeling that behavior to them.
"There are two main reasons why people are rude: ignorance and selfishness."
I sure hope neither of those qualities speak of who I am or who I am perceived to be.
Here are three questions (adapted) the book offers to test yourself:
- How do your students feel about the way you speak and act toward them?
- How does your behavior affect your students' sense of worth and self-esteem?
- Would your students say you are a blessing, or that you are condescending and embarrassing?
If you are thinking of other teachers who may act this way, please remember to check yourself as well. Often times if we are quick to label others in their faults, we have a much bigger issue to be dealing with ourselves. "Your likely suffering from a bad case of ignorance, with a secondary condition of selfishness."
The book also offers some guidelines to practicing etiquette:
-Guard the Golden Rule. Treat your students the way you want to be treated (or the way you would like them to treat other students)
- No double standards. Be as considerate to one student as you are to another.
This Week's Dare
This dare will be in two parts. First, find a time throughout the week to hold a class meeting and discuss some qualities they really like in teachers. Obviously, you will have to be careful with this discussion and offer guidelines for what is appropriate to say, etc. Next, take a look at your own teaching. Evaluate if there is anything you do as a teacher that could be irritating or embarrassing to your students.
What do you notice about your behavior? What do you plan to do to improve these areas?
Kendrick, S, & Kendrick, A. (2008). The Love Dare. Nashville: B & H Publishing Group.
Another side note... Please remember that although it is important to pour love out on our students... your highest calling to love goes to God and your spouse.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I teach 7th grade. Translate that to I am constantly surrounded by all that is rudeness. It is SO easy for me to respond rudely.
When I get frustrated by a rude student and respond in a similar manner, I am only letting them know that somehow I believe that their behavior is acceptable, and possibly even expected. I think this is one of my biggest failures at being a good role model for my students. Not that I am horribly rude to them, but I know they see me react in snide ways. I sure hope when I have kids that they don't have teachers modeling that behavior to them.
"There are two main reasons why people are rude: ignorance and selfishness."
I sure hope neither of those qualities speak of who I am or who I am perceived to be.
Here are three questions (adapted) the book offers to test yourself:
- How do your students feel about the way you speak and act toward them?
- How does your behavior affect your students' sense of worth and self-esteem?
- Would your students say you are a blessing, or that you are condescending and embarrassing?
If you are thinking of other teachers who may act this way, please remember to check yourself as well. Often times if we are quick to label others in their faults, we have a much bigger issue to be dealing with ourselves. "Your likely suffering from a bad case of ignorance, with a secondary condition of selfishness."
The book also offers some guidelines to practicing etiquette:
-Guard the Golden Rule. Treat your students the way you want to be treated (or the way you would like them to treat other students)
- No double standards. Be as considerate to one student as you are to another.
This Week's Dare
This dare will be in two parts. First, find a time throughout the week to hold a class meeting and discuss some qualities they really like in teachers. Obviously, you will have to be careful with this discussion and offer guidelines for what is appropriate to say, etc. Next, take a look at your own teaching. Evaluate if there is anything you do as a teacher that could be irritating or embarrassing to your students.
What do you notice about your behavior? What do you plan to do to improve these areas?
Kendrick, S, & Kendrick, A. (2008). The Love Dare. Nashville: B & H Publishing Group.
Another side note... Please remember that although it is important to pour love out on our students... your highest calling to love goes to God and your spouse.
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