Understanding The Importance of Respect
Respecting others is a trait our parents and guardians teach us from a young age. From sharing toys to making sure you are polite in others homes; respect can be shown in many ways, but for some, it is harder to stick to. Whether it be because you are being disrespected in the moment or not even aware you are being so; it happens to the best of us. Although we aren’t blind to the fact that people that do not always mean it, it is still important to be respectful as often as possible, and sometimes that means being so even in times we don’t feel as if we should be.
Respect in environments such as school is where kids tend to show the most of it since that is where they spend most of their time, but in recent years it seems to have diminished. When it comes to student respect for teachers, “The percentage of people who agreed with the statement “students respect teachers” dropped to 31% after previously being at 79% years prior.” (Toppo, 2014). This can be due to many reasons, whether it be the influence of other students, social media and video games or the freedom of being away from parental supervision, but according to some, it is simply because “students respect teachers who respect them.” (Ferlazzo, 2019). This shows that respect needs to go both ways because everyone likes to be respected. If you show a sense of respect to someone, they are more likely to reciprocate, but for those with learning differences, respect can be taken away at times. Since some people in this world are not so kind, they can treat those with learning differences such as ADHD, Autism, Asperger’s, etc. Poorly simply because they are different. Although this is not acceptable behavior, it doesn’t mean you should be disrespectful back. It may feel right at the moment, but respect shows you are the bigger person, and ensuring you show that respect to everyone you come across will allow you to always be the better person, no matter the situation.
The reality is that we as people need to show respect even when we do not want to. Whether it be at school, work, or on the street, showing respect to those we see paints us in a light that shows we deserve respect back. Although having various abilities can make it hard at times due to social or processing differences, it is not something that cannot be integrated into daily life. With the help of the Support for Students Growth Center, respect habits such as listening, not saying something that may be harmful or unkind, being in the moment when with someone, keeping eye contact/facial contact, understanding boundaries, etc. can all be taught with the help of their experts. So, if you or your student needs aid with respect, trust SSGC to help.
Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.
Toppo, G. (2014, January 23). Respect at school in decline, survey shows. USA Today. Retrieved May 22, 2022, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/01/23/respect-schools-teachers-parents-students/4789283/
Ferlazzo, L. (2021, March 5). ‘students respect teachers who they feel respect them’ (opinion). Education Week. Retrieved May 22, 2022, from https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-students-respect-teachers-who-they-feel-respect-them/2019/09
