Was this teacher disrespecting the student?

Question

Hi, I viewed the video of the student disrespecting the national anthem. I live in Toronto, Ontario Canada, I work as an educational assistant in a catholic high school. This problem about students not respecting the national anthem is worldwide. Where I work we have the same student attitude. Some not all high school students are disrespectful of the national anthem. Talking out loud, listening to Ipods, checking out their cell phones, etc. I know how an adult can lose control over these kinds of behaviours. It is very frustrating to say the least. Young people of today are out of control. To think that these young people are our future! Very scary indeed!

What I am try to get across is that I can empathize with the teacher in the video. This being disrespectful not only in the national anthem, but in other areas of teaching. There can be a lot of disruption in the classroom, i.e. rudeness, talking out loud on the students part, listening to I pods, using cell phones and anything that can impair the learning experience with all students in the classroom.

Please copy and paste this into your browser, halfway down the page you can click on the video t Sunkeeper

http://www.kantor.com/blog/2005/03/nj_teacher_freak_out.shtml

Answer 1

I haven't seen the video, but having been a teacher for 13 years I can definitely say there is a lack of respect among kids today, and that much of it begins at home.

I'm so tired of hearing parents and students say, "Well, if you show me respect I'll show you respect." What happened to respect to everyone based on the fact that you're a human being? Respect for elders? Respect for adults? Respect for teachers and authority? It's gone, and we have no one but ourselves to blame, all of us, because we've allowed it to happen.

We allow kids to see and hear things they shouldn't, there's no shame in anything anymore, and many parents have lost control. Look at how many families apply for shows like Supernanny. Be a parent and set some limits! Kids need to know that there are consequences for their actions, and they will be upheld.

Take a look at the book Nothing But The Truth by Avi. It's an excellent book that addresses relevant topics such as respect for the flag/anthem, respect for the school/teacher, lying, ethical behavior, etc. It's a teen book, easy to read, and my students really like it - it's a terrific conversation starter.

Answer 2

I think it is hard to find the causes of these generalized behaviors. No doubt, it is a process that started long ago when schools cannot teach values to the students other than no value is absolute, and everything is relative. Students today cannot distinguish what is wrong or right since the only criterion is their own point of view about what is wrong and right. I have been an educator for many years at all levels. I can see most of this behavior in the USA and Canada. I have had the chance to see kids in all South America and there they all respect the national symbols, they sing the anthem with passion, they respect teachers and they value the education they receive, since it is hard to have the chance to even have a school near; sometimes they have to walk barefoot to the school when they just have a piece of paper and a pencil, may be no water and no a/c. there would be a lot to say about this. Of course, the future is dark; i can see kids in USA behaving sometimes like retarded, unable to complete some minimum rules of behavior, taking drugs, playing stupidly video games, etc, etc. As you said, those young kids are the future but, if you go to Stanford or the best universities or just to the best high schools, and check who are the best students, you will be surprised: foreigners or immigrant's children. Make your conclusions...
Anyway, this is just a comment. I do not see your question...

Answer 3

Maybe you should tell them why they should be proud to be Canadian. Also keep in mind that Toronto especially has a very high number of immigrants. I know I didn't even understand the words of the anthem early on, nor do I know them now as I am an immigrant.

Also another underlying problem is that these students are likely rebelling against a general cause because they're seeking self identity, this is an identity that's forced on them so they wish to do away with it. It should pass, and I would venture to guess that aside from this they're very proud to be Canadian, immigrants or not.

And another thing, we have freedom of speech and freedom of expression, it's their right to exercise such freedoms, no matter what we might think. It is a free country after all, from sea to shining sea.

Answer 4

It's funny when adults blame the young people for bad manners, and out of control. I can't disagree with many youth misbehavior, but you can't blame them fully. Parents need to teach kids whats right and wrong. Plus a youth is still learning, they might just need somebody to tell them how it is. Besides I see adults drink like baboons, drive with cell phones (endangering the lives of others and themselves), fight over the stupidest things like- I was ahead of him!, and to top it all off, you adults of today invented yesterday, (drugs, guns, gangs, Woodstock-yep those are not because of the youth generation of today!) Tisk. Tisk. To think that those people were our past! Very scary indeed! Sorry to come off a bit offensive, but I don't think it's right to generalize a group, after all your ending lines is exactly what your parent's generation said about you.

And yes the teacher was disrespecting the student, it is the right of the student to sit if he wants to (doesn't mean it was right), however the students that filmed were wrong too. It is illegal to film a teacher or anybody without their consent first, and because you could obviously tell they hid the camera in a bag or backpack they were in the wrong too.

Answer 5

Saying the National Anthem is not something they have to do, but it wouldn't hurt if they showed a little respect for those that do and that are dying for us so we may be free.

Answer 6

So what was your question? The teacher is expected to have control over the classroom at all times...If you are allowing them to talk and listen to their Ipods then you are not doing your job, quietly take them aside and let them know that their behavior is not going to be tolerated in the classroom, and the next time they do it give them a detention.

Answer 7

Its not mandatory by law to have respect for it. But they should have respect for the people that are at war dying for us. I don't understant your question.

Answer 8

what was the question? and i think that problem is all over the world. i would never do it though

Answer 9

What was the question?