Chaplain's Corner
Respectful Relationships
At Burrendah, one of the PBS Foci is respect.
The Cambridge Dictionary definition for respect (noun) includes:
(a) admiration felt or shown for someone or something that you believe has good ideas or qualities:
(b) politeness, honour, and care shown towards someone or something that is considered important: (c) a feeling that something is right or important and you should not attempt to change it or harm it.
During this period of ’16 in WA’, I thought it appropriate for the adults in our community to consider how our children see respect applied to relationships they observe at home, social events, sporting events and in the media. A relationship can be defined as the way in which two or more people, groups, countries, etc., talk to, behave toward, and deal with each other. It is our responsibility to teach and encourage the young people of our state to be respectful in their relationships with others, both now, and when they reach adulthood.
So, what is a respectful relationship? A respectful relationship is one of mutual respect, trust, communication, understanding, and honesty. Some features of a respectful relationship include:
-Feeling comfortable
-Being able to say ‘no’
-Giving each other personal space
-Being able to make your own decisions
-Feeling accepted and free to be yourself
-Listening and being heard
-Supporting each other through good times and bad
-Understanding that it is OK to have different opinions
-Being able to express your thoughts and feelings calmly without judgement
-Being able to talk things through, negotiate and make compromises
-Managing anger without harm
Everyone faces challenges in life, and sometimes it can be hard to get along with other people. We can remind our children that when relationship challenges happen, there’s always something you can try or someone you can talk to- starting with a trusted adult like a parent or teacher.
(https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens/issues/all-about-respect)
Louise Lathbury
School Chaplain