Many things change over the course of time and in many instances we have a tough time adjusting. Many people hate change, even when change is good because it is not what we are used to. Technology is the best example, as it changes faster and faster with each passing year. Many of us went from cassette tapes, to compact discs
CDs), to digital downloads, etc. in the world of music.
I have to admit that I have a tough time adjusting to change. It is easy for me to learn new software on my personal computer. It is even getting easier for me to adjust to a world that worships the dreaded cell phone. One area that I cannot adjust to, however, is the change in our country’s moral landscape.
This is most vivid for me in the classroom and in areas where young people hang out together. Our standards for what kind of language is, and is not, acceptable are at an all-time low in this country. Many young people think nothing of swearing in front of an adult anymore. While the dreaded f-word is still a culturally inappropriate word, many students say fricking, freaking, f-ing, etc. to get the point across. There really is no difference.
In addition, most other swear words seem to be perfectly acceptable by many of our young people. Haven’t they been taught that they sound incredibly ignorant when using such language? Furthermore, how will they ever gain an adult’s respect with such vulgarity?
Even the simple saying of, “That sucks” is more and more common. Maybe we need to get young people to think about what they are saying. I respond to that comment with, “Sucks what?” What are we exactly saying with that expression?
Students are less and less apt to address an adult with the title, Mr., Mrs. or Ms. While I don’t believe all occasions require such formalities, I will admit that I am extremely impressed when a young person addresses an adult with such titles. It is a sign of respect, not only for the person they are talking to, but for themselves as a young person.
Just the other day, one of my student-athletes walked by me after school and said, “Hi Mitch!” Not that it is the end of the world, but I was just kind of shocked. I said, “What?” He responded, “Hey, it’s the off-season, I don’t have to say Mr. Dorr or Coach now.”
We had a little conversation to set the record straight and educate the young man about common respect.
I’m not into ego trips or forcing students to be formal every waking moment of the day, but I am into teaching young people about a commonsense approach to respect. We have lost the art of teaching our young people about respecting themselves, their peers, and their elders.
The blame doesn’t fall on young people. I don’t think the majority of young people are trying to be disrespectful and crass, they just haven’t been disciplined or taught differently. We need to take the time to teach the next generation about respect.
While we all mess up and fall short from time to time, teaching respectful behavior starts with modeling the appropriate actions at home. Now that is change I can believe in!
Mitch Dorr, a Cook County
High School Class of 1993
graduate, is now a social
studies teacher and coach at
his former alma mater. Mitch
coaches Vikings football and
boys’ basketball.
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