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 7/8 graders. 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.
"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 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?
I'm praying that this is beneficial to you. I know that so often I start my day or week remembering these things, then as the day progresses and things happen I am quick to forget. I also know that I'm not the best model of love, but no one is. God is love and that's all we need. Praying that the fullness of His love would overwhelm us so much that it spills out through our lives.
Kendrick, S, & Kendrick, A. (2008). The Love Dare. Nashville: B & H Publishing Group.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I teach 7/8 graders. 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.
"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?
I'm praying that this is beneficial to you. I know that so often I start my day or week remembering these things, then as the day progresses and things happen I am quick to forget. I also know that I'm not the best model of love, but no one is. God is love and that's all we need. Praying that the fullness of His love would overwhelm us so much that it spills out through our lives.
Kendrick, S, & Kendrick, A. (2008). The Love Dare. Nashville: B & H Publishing Group.
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