March 7, 2013
What is respect?
Respect means showing regard and appreciation for the worth of someone or something.
It means honor and esteem.
It includes respect for self, respect for the rights and dignity of all persons, and respect for the environment that sustains life.
Respect keeps us from hurting what we ought to value.
Why is respect important?
Much of the universal values and virtues that contribute to the good of the individual and society and affirm our human dignity are derived from the value of respect and the value of responsibility.
We need respect to collaborate and to have a peaceful world.
Children with respect:
Listen
Keep unkind thoughts to themselves
Speak kindly to teachers and others
Play fairly and wait their turn
Raise their hands before talking
Say “please” and “thank you”
Clean up after themselves
Share
Proverbs and maxims
Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness. (Seneca)
My religion is simple. My religion is kindness. (Dalai Lama)
Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together. (Goethe)
It is the weak who are cruel. Gentleness and kindness can only be expected from the strong. (Leo Rosten)
Other quotes on respect
Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts? (Confucius)
I must respect the opinions of others even if I disagree with them. (Herbert H. Lehman)
I can live for two months on a good compliment. (Mark Twain)
Heroes and heroines
Abraham Lincoln – respected his enemies and modeled understanding, forgiveness, and kindness. He was committed to restoring the union and freeing the slaves.
Golda Meir – served as Israel’s prime minister and worked to secure peace agreements with the Arab nations.
Set goals for yourself
Respect for yourself
Respect for your family
Respect for your teacher
Respect for other people
Respect for property
Respect for rules
Respect for differences
Respect for the environment
Respect on the telephone
Ask the person you are calling if it is a good time to talk.
Don’t call friends or family during the hours around dinner time or too early or too late.
Keep background noise down.
Limit the amount of time you talk.
Take accurate phone messages.
Don’t interrupt.
Say “please” and “thank you”.
Put respect into action
Practice the Golden Rule.
Practice Random Acts of Kindness.
Practice saying “please” and “thank you” and “excuse me”.
Make a point of not teasing and encourage your friends not to.
Be patient with yourself and others when a mistake is made.
Discuss with your parents what good manners are.
Practice good table manners.
Make an effort not to gossip.
Make an effort to not swear.
Be courteous toward everyone.
Learn how to properly introduce yourself.
Practice giving a firm handshake.
Remember to raise your hand when you want to speak in class.
Community service ideas
Entertain senior citizens at a retirement home.
Correspond with students from another country and learn about each other’s culture.
Write thank you letters to community leaders.
Volunteer to help the disabled.
Volunteer to help with cleanup or gardening chores at a park or other public recreational area.
Share with another school the meaning of respect by exchanging art projects, writings, and other ideas. Try to exchange visits.
Honor Labor Day by showing respect for the working people in your community.
Make posters.
“The Golden Rule”
“Treat others as you wish to be treated yourself.”
The Golden Rule urges all people to treat one another with dignity and respect.
Remember:
Respect means using good manners; being courteous and polite, speaking to others in a kind voice; using polite body language.
Respect means showing consideration toward other people (including your elders, parents, guardians, teachers, peers, siblings, other family members, employers, and people in authority).
Respect means honoring other people’s wants, needs, ideas, differences, beliefs, customs, and heritage.
Respect means caring for other living things and the earth (animals, plants, the environment).
Respect means obeying the rules, laws, and customs of your family, faith, community, and country.
Other activities
Write a poem about respect. What does it mean to you? Or, write a story about an incident where someone shows respect or disrespect. Perform it as a skit.
Make a list of disrespectful words and phrases. Replace with compliments, congratulations, and encouragement.
Learn about netiquette or proper behavior using the computer for communication.
Learn about etiquette for different occasions such as meeting new people, giving a party, eating a meal, writing a thank you note, participating in sports.
Research respect and courtesy in other cultures. Make a chart to compare simple courtesies.
Brainstorm rules of respect for your family, classroom, club, etc.
– Author Unknown
