AZ Star -- azstarnet.com
Sunday, 20 June 1999
Readers mostly in favor of legislating good manners
Sure, our teachers deserve respect.
But so do students and parents.
That's what some Tucson-area residents said when responding to a recent call-in line
set up by The Arizona Daily Star.
Readers were asked to comment on a pending Louisiana law that would require students
to address teachers and other school employees as ``sir'' or ``ma'am'' or use the
appropriate title of Mr., Miss, Ms. or Mrs.
About 45 people responded.
They include eight teachers who largely agree that local students already display
an admirable level of respect.
One teacher says students should be required to dress less casually. Another says
teachers would get more respect if they dressed less casually.
And a third teacher said we should mandate school prayer.
Overall, eight callers specifically commented on the Louisiana law.
Five said it is a good law, mainly because school respect seems to be a thing of
the past. Three said the law isn't a good idea, partly because it's unnecessary and
partly because it's a waste of legislative money.
One caller said students should be required to address teachers with courtesy titles.
But she added that teachers should be required to address students as ``Ms.'' or
``Master.''
Here's a sampling of the calls:
``Growing up in east Tennessee in the 1930s and 1940s, we did not need laws to
address others as ``sir'' or ``ma'am.'' It was just the way it was. Not just those
older than we were either. These were used for anyone you did not know well and anyone
you respected. Teachers were a small but important part of that.''
- Dick Gladson
``It's about time someone finally addressed the problem of the lack of respect
students have for their teachers. Nowadays, teachers are treated on the same level
as students' punk friends.
``I, for one, think it is entirely appropriate to call teachers by Mr./Mrs. and their
last name. I was appalled to find out that at my daughter's preschool, the kids are
taught to call their teachers by their first name. Where's the respect? The authority?
I was taught (and I'm still in my early 30s, thank you very much) to address all
adults as Mr. or Mrs. (It's difficult being one of only a few parents doing this.)
``The lack of respect for teachers is part of a bigger problem - the lack of respect
for all adults in general. Just try telling some kid anything they don't want to
hear, you'll most likely get backtalk, attitude, if not obscene gestures.
``As I think about it, kids are just learning lack of respect from their parents.
The lack of respect for officers of the law, the office of the presidency (well,
we know why that is!), our country (no one flies the flag anymore), etc. It's a societal
phenomenon.
``Without respect, which reinforces the authority, how can teachers ever hope to
teach students anything? Hooray for school uniforms and mandatory respect for our
educators! How about requiring students to say the pledge of allegiance (to the flag)
in school again?
``Thanks for letting me express my opinion. Oh, and I plan to home-school my children.''
- Debra Claus-Walker
``I've been teaching for 12 years. Students most commonly call me `Mr.' In second
place would be `Miss, oh sorry, I mean mister.' Next would come `sir,' then ``Mr.
Merz.'' I've also been called by other teachers' names, and a few times I've been
called `Mom' - which is really embarrassing for an eighth-grader, but I love it.
``Students will refer to me in the third person as `the Mr.' or `Mr. Merz.' ''
- August Merz
``I am an early childhood special education teacher. My name is Mrs. Stitt. Since
many of my students are language-delayed with articulation problems, the name Stitt
is sometimes pronounced with embarrassing connotations. Teacher Kate is often more
pleasant.
``What my students call me is not the mark of respect I want. Believe me, any name
said with just that `right' tone of voice and `look' on the face is a slur.
``Although my main assignment is early childhood, I have taught and substitute taught
in older students' classrooms. I have also raised three children. Respect is something
that is earned. Even the most notorious students, the ones who seldom went a week
without being in the principal's office on a discipline infraction, talked to me
with respect. Maybe not the first time we talked, but after they learned that I was
willing to treat them with respect and courtesy. Given a chance, most children will
give back what they are given.
``There are teachers, just as there are others we know, who frankly do not encourage
or deserve respect. They are the ones who belittle to gain control. They tease, embarrass
and do cruel things to students. I would like to see them drummed out of teaching
. . . maybe out of society. That is hardly realistic. Respect cannot be legislated.
It is obtained the old-fashioned way - I earn it.''
- Ernestine K. Stitt
``Teachers should be addressed as Mr., Miss or Mrs., as the case may be.
``This is the beginning of some discipline students need, and believe it or not,
want.
``Additionally, a dress code should be adopted. Girls: not tank tops, short shorts,
no bare midriff, no baggy pants. Boys: no baggy pants, no tank tops, sport shirt
with a collar and presentable jeans.''
- Norb Kocman
``I'm a teacher at Sunnyside High School. Most of my students refer to me as
`Miss' or `Miss Roberts.' I don't have a problem with any disrespect from students.
``To pass a law in Louisiana, I think, is absolutely ridiculous. I think it's one
more case of where someone didn't think down the road and it was a knee-jerk reaction.
- Robin Roberts
``I'm the choir teacher at Santa Rita High School. I can tell you that our students
are incredibly respectful, and I'm very proud of them.
``I've taught in Virginia and New York and peculiar to Arizona is that most of my
students address me as `Ms.' I thought maybe that when I first started teaching here
in Arizona that I should correct them until I realized that is a very respectful
way of addressing teachers, and it makes me feel younger.''
- Diane Thomas
``Many years ago while teaching on a Fulbright in England I discovered that all
female teachers were addressed as `Miss' and males were really addressed as `sir.'
``Before I retired (in Sedona - not Tucson), it was not uncommon to be addressed
as `Mom' or `Mommy.'
``If teachers would dress in a professional manner (and they do in some Tucson-area
schools) they would command more respect. Teachers want to be considered (as having
a) profession - not just a job - but when they come to school dressed in shorts,
Levis and T-shirts they do not appear to be members of a profession.''
- Margaret Mason
http://www.azstarnet.com/public/dnews/115-6989.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's an interesting article on SB1098,
the good manners bill, at The Advocate's Web site.
------------------------------------------------------------------------