Whose Job Is It?

I recently read the book "55 Rules-Workbook" by Ron Clark. The benefit of the Workbook is it expands on the Book 55 Rules and offers specific ideas and tools for teaching and implementation.  Like many teachers, I have been taught that I should only have a few rules and some may think that having 55 rules is overkill. Most of the rules have to do with manners: answer questions with a "yes or no sir/ma'am, no eye rolling, saying please and thank you and holding the door open for people behind you are a few examples.  The rules then become concrete reminders of how to live life with respect for yourself and those around you. 

Reminding my students to use manners is a constant struggle (I will admit manners are a pet peeve) and I can see how having posters with these reminders could be helpful.  Whether or not it is truly our job, schools have become the place where students learn the correct way to act. Sadly for some, school may be the only place where students are held to a high standard academically or behaviorally. This adds to the importance and impact that schools can have on their students and the community.  It also shows how vital schools are to the success of our communities and country as a whole. 

In the end, our success as a community is not based on how high our test scores are or how smart are students are. Learning is a life long journey and the two most important skills we can teach young people are how to treat others well and to have a love for learning. Treating people well creates a home/work place/community that is full of respect and kindness. A love for learning means that nothing is impossible. Once I know how I learn best, I can learn anything that interests me. The Internet makes learning even more accessible. There are videos, manuals and books on just about every topic imaginable. 

Whose Job Is It? It's our job. It is everyone's job (parents, families, schools, teacher and coaches) to make sure that our children love to learn new things and that they know how to treat people well.  We may not be tested on manners, but over a lifetime, I believe they are far more important that a bubble test. In the end, life is about relationships and it is near impossible to build strong relationships without treating people well.