Chemistry and Mrs. Busch

During J-term of 2010 I observed a chemistry teacher at Decorah high school who had been teaching for 25 years.  Mrs. Busch had been teaching long enough that she had taught the parents of some of the students she was currently teaching.  From my first introduction with Mrs. Busch I was amazed at how kind and cheerful of a person she was to everyone around her.  Before and after class she was always very interested and supportive of all her students no matter what they were involved in.  When it came time to start class she was still able to retain that cheerful demeanor while holding the attention of her entire class.  There was a moment during that month of observation where I witnessed her have to discipline a student for getting out of line.  The way she handled the situation was not by snapping but by informing the student that what he was doing was hindering the class as a hole and that it was in his best interest to behave if not for himself for that good of the class.  Mrs. Busch's light-hearted attitude and ability to command respect through compassion for others is a disposition I wish I could demonstrate at a teacher.

How Does a Teacher Attain Respect In the Classroom

The late UCLA basketball coach John Wooden was a great example of a person who could command respect simply by being an outstanding role model.  He led by example and that was how he was able to gain the respect of his basketball players but at the same time he showed his athletes the respect they were due.   Coach Wooden described how we should respect others best in his own words "Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights." Respect is treating others in a manner in which you would like to be treated yourself.  This could be applied to a classroom setting simply by setting an example to the students how they should respect others.  The students would then understand what respect looks like and how it should be administered in school.  Students don't have to be silent and motionless behind their desks to show respect of their teacher.  That type of respect is more of a form of fear which is not a healthy relationship between the teacher and their students.  If a student lives in fear of their teacher they are not going to ask questions about what they don't understand in the class.  This does not lead to healthy learning.  Instead a student should feel comfortable enough with their teacher that they will ask questions if they need to.