Chaplain's Corner

Hi Everyone!

Have you ever felt DISRESPECTED?  How did it feel?   Not good, right?  Like you I have experienced being disrespected and it felt BEWILDERING, HURTFUL, EMBARRASSING, MISUNDERSTOOD AND created ANXIOUSNESS.  Sometimes I felt disrespected by an adult and sometimes by a child or young person.

Feelings others may experience include anger, fear, and low selfworth.

Have I disrespected others? I hope not, but if I have it was not intentionally.  Adults and children alike can say and do things out of frustration or feelings of inadequacy, which can unintentionally lead to disrespect.

Often we wear the brunt of disrespect when we are not actually the target of someone’s venting.

SO HOW DO WE TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE TO RESPECT OTHERS?

Firstly, we need to MODEL RESPECT in our own lives in our interactions with others in the home, at work and in the community, showing respect with our actions, our words and deeds. THEN we can expect it of our children and young people.

Sadly, much of what children and young people see and hear on television, movies, news reports and social media, does not present a culture of RESPECT. 

Secondly, LISTEN. Try to discover what is behind the behaviour.  Is the young person trying to fit in and be noticed by peers or the ‘cool kids’?  Do they have a poor self-image?  Is the young person not coping with school, friendships, or change?  We all need to be affirmed for who we are.

Thirdly, find TEACHABLE moments. When my children were little I loved taking them on train trips.  Sometimes we saw children jumping on the carriage seats or swinging from bars.  I would tell my children how pleased I was that they were respecting the train and others by sitting, instead of jumping on seats where others needed to sit.

Movies and TV programs/advertisements  provide other opportunities.  Look for examples of both respect and disrespect to point out and discuss.  I like one of the ‘up and go’ ads where a young man gives up his seat for an elderly person.  My hubby and I enjoy watching NCIS, but there are moments of DISRESPECT when the ‘boss’ hits a coworker over the head when he makes a silly comment – hmmm…

I remember teaching the value of ‘empathy’ to some grade 5/6 students using you tube clips.  Each Monday morning  one student would come to me and tell me about examples of EMPATHY that he saw in a movie he had watched.

Fourthly, CHOICES,ACTIONS, CONSEQUENCES.  Sometimes we all need to learn that behaviours such as disrespect will result in consequences.  Allowing disrespect, breeds disrespect.

This is only touching on RESPECT AND DISRESPECT.

Anderson’s Creek PS has been a very busy place this term, especially in recent weeks with the recent lockdown, special events, timetable changes and the repairing of the school oval. It is also a time for renewing friendships or establishing peer groups.  All this can test some student’ coping skills, and sadly, disrespect is sometimes displayed.  A family chat about how things are going will help young people to express their thoughts and feelings.

Let’s continue to work together, striving to be our best selves and encouraging our children to be their best selves.

Robyn Mulholland (School Chaplain)

robyn.mulholland@education.vic.gov.au