“Respect begins with this attitude: I acknowledge that you are a creature of extreme worth.”
― Gary Chapman
How We Define Respect
/rəˈspekt/
Noun
- A feeling or a show of honor or esteem for someone or something.
- due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others.
Respect is acknowledging the sacredness of another life form, whether it be a human, animal, or plant and holding it in esteem. The word respect comes from the latin respectus, which means regard, attention, or consideration. Being respectful means having high regard for other beings and giving them the kindness and consideration they deserve, regardless of how they may be different from us.
Why We Value Respect in Education
We know that in order for someone to feel safe and secure, they have to feel respected. We not only recognize the importance of respect amongst a classroom community, but we want to teach the importance of greater respect not only for the human being, but for animals, plants, and our mother earth as a whole.
“Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.”
― Dalai Lama
How We Define Responsibility
/rəˌspänsəˈbilədē/
Noun
- The state of being accountable for something within one’s power, control, or management.
- A moral obligation to behave in respect toward something.
- Having an obligation or duty for which you must be reliable and dependable.
Responsibility is about being accountable for one’s actions and choices. It is recognizing the power of our personal choice as well as the consequences of those choices. Being responsible doesn’t mean never making mistakes. But, it means holding ourselves accountable when we do. Responsibility is doing our best to be trustworthy, reliable, and dependent human beings.
Why We Value Responsibility in Education
Responsibility is an important virtue, thus it should be taught and practiced throughout the education process. We not only want to teach our students personal responsibility, but universal responsibility as well. We want to emphasize that it is not only our duty to be responsible for ourselves, but that as humans, we are responsible for the planet and we must consider how our lifestyle impacts the environment in which we live.
