Educators & Attitudes
With everyone returning to school there is a lot of buzz once again on blogs, in the news, and through the media regarding teacher's, student's and parent's attitudes. I feel responsible to inform folks that it is all the players coming in with attitudes. And, these attitudes can be both positive and negative.
Students of all ages have bad attitudes, for a variety of reasons, about school and their teachers. The students may simply not want to be there, this can include younger and older students alike. Teachers may be the same. They are tired, frightened, have the feeling they may no longer be making an impact on kids or they may just be burnt out and hate their jobs. I must mention, these types of teachers, in my experience are few and far between. Most teachers love teaching.
There are good and bad students just as there are good and bad teachers. This description has a broad definition, but at the end of the day all these players are human. All humans have attitudes about themselves and life in general. These attitudes come into the classroom no matter who brings them.
At this point I remind my readers this is not a problem endemic only to schools and classrooms. Attitudes are in our homes, workplaces, communities, churches, and organizations. There are always those who are achievers, some are helpers, those who always seem angry, people who are always happy, and those who are always sad or solitary. Then there are the ever present pians-in-the-neck who are lazy, never pulling pull their weight.
Now we ask what do we do about it? Can we do anything about it? My answer is yes there are solutions.
One thing is stop and examine the situation for what it really is before responding. Don't add to the drama or trauma. Most of the time someones attitude may not even have a thing to do with you as a person. It may actually be about the teacher or student with the attitude. There can be dozens of reason for the way they respond and act toward others. It may be hard to believe but their actions may not have a thing to do with you or those they are lashing out toward.
If someone is a miserable human being they may a miserable human being so anyone in their paths get mowed down by them. If someone is miserable that becomes their problem. The only problem which becomes ours is in not getting drug down with or by them. Easier said than done I know, but with practice it can be done. I have done it for years...much to the chagrin of the miserable.
The complaints coming in are from both sides. Complaints by the students about the teachers and teachers complaining about the students of today;s world. Teachers say students don't care anymore and the students are saying the same thing about the teachers.
Well, news flash! You are all correct. Our world of today is nothing like that of the 70's and the 1970's where nothing like the 1950's. Everything is always changing. With everything changing we must continually reinvent ourselves to move with the changes. Those who do not and decide to fight the changes become angry, tired and bitter.
Your final question or comment to me is, "So then why do I have to give in to the person with the attitude issue?" The best news is, you don't give in or try to change them. The only thing you have to do and the only responsibility you have is to take care of yourself. It all comes down to how you personally decide to respond to the other person. You are and can only be responsible and accountable to you, no one else. The greatest thing I have witnessed by embracing this concept is that by adopting a positive, healthier life style others around you begin to respond differently as well.
Of course there will always be those who don't respond to anything. They are miserable human beings and will always be so. The way I love to deal with these types is the more negative and nasty someone become the sweeter I choose to react to them. I love this and it always makes my day go better. Sometimes a tiny spark of hope is seen and if not you have the satisfaction that you may have made their day much worse!
Lighten up everyone and learn to laugh at yourselves. Enjoy the school year!
Students of all ages have bad attitudes, for a variety of reasons, about school and their teachers. The students may simply not want to be there, this can include younger and older students alike. Teachers may be the same. They are tired, frightened, have the feeling they may no longer be making an impact on kids or they may just be burnt out and hate their jobs. I must mention, these types of teachers, in my experience are few and far between. Most teachers love teaching.
There are good and bad students just as there are good and bad teachers. This description has a broad definition, but at the end of the day all these players are human. All humans have attitudes about themselves and life in general. These attitudes come into the classroom no matter who brings them.
At this point I remind my readers this is not a problem endemic only to schools and classrooms. Attitudes are in our homes, workplaces, communities, churches, and organizations. There are always those who are achievers, some are helpers, those who always seem angry, people who are always happy, and those who are always sad or solitary. Then there are the ever present pians-in-the-neck who are lazy, never pulling pull their weight.
Now we ask what do we do about it? Can we do anything about it? My answer is yes there are solutions.
One thing is stop and examine the situation for what it really is before responding. Don't add to the drama or trauma. Most of the time someones attitude may not even have a thing to do with you as a person. It may actually be about the teacher or student with the attitude. There can be dozens of reason for the way they respond and act toward others. It may be hard to believe but their actions may not have a thing to do with you or those they are lashing out toward.
If someone is a miserable human being they may a miserable human being so anyone in their paths get mowed down by them. If someone is miserable that becomes their problem. The only problem which becomes ours is in not getting drug down with or by them. Easier said than done I know, but with practice it can be done. I have done it for years...much to the chagrin of the miserable.
The complaints coming in are from both sides. Complaints by the students about the teachers and teachers complaining about the students of today;s world. Teachers say students don't care anymore and the students are saying the same thing about the teachers.
Well, news flash! You are all correct. Our world of today is nothing like that of the 70's and the 1970's where nothing like the 1950's. Everything is always changing. With everything changing we must continually reinvent ourselves to move with the changes. Those who do not and decide to fight the changes become angry, tired and bitter.
Your final question or comment to me is, "So then why do I have to give in to the person with the attitude issue?" The best news is, you don't give in or try to change them. The only thing you have to do and the only responsibility you have is to take care of yourself. It all comes down to how you personally decide to respond to the other person. You are and can only be responsible and accountable to you, no one else. The greatest thing I have witnessed by embracing this concept is that by adopting a positive, healthier life style others around you begin to respond differently as well.
Of course there will always be those who don't respond to anything. They are miserable human beings and will always be so. The way I love to deal with these types is the more negative and nasty someone become the sweeter I choose to react to them. I love this and it always makes my day go better. Sometimes a tiny spark of hope is seen and if not you have the satisfaction that you may have made their day much worse!
Lighten up everyone and learn to laugh at yourselves. Enjoy the school year!
Labels: anger, attitudes, change, churches, classrooms, communities, complaints, educators, healthy, miserable, positive, responsibility, school year, students, teachers, workplaces
posted by PJ Nickels and RE Hughes at
9:59 AM
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