Community Corner
Respect: What Does It Mean To You?
We know you have to give respect to get respect. But what IS respect, exactly? Five educators share their definitions.
During the month of October, schools across the country will observe National Bullying Prevention Month. At National Heritage Academies’ 100+ tuition-free charter schools across nine U.S. states, students will discuss how embodying the virtue of respect is one way students can take an active role in keeping bullying at bay.
NHA asked some staff what respect means to them, and how they’ll be positioning this discussion in the classroom:
"To me respect is a way of treating someone by acknowledging who they are, not who you think they are. It’s showing kindness, consideration, and reverence. It’s having an attitude of courteous regard for people’s feelings. When you treat others with respect, you can sense a feeling of appreciation, of warmth, and those feelings are returned to you, directly or indirectly. I try to show respect by appreciating what every person brings to a situation, and not discounting someone’s thought because it may differ from mine. Each individual brings a unique perspective to an issue, and honoring that perspective is a way of transmitting respect." – Andy
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"Respect is less of a feeling and more of a resulting action. It means responding to others in a way that shows you care. It is acting in a way that puts serving others above yourself." – Mark
"To me respect means treating others just as you would wish to be treated. Showing compassion for others in both times of joy and need. I see respect from our NHA teachers when they go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure a student is receiving the best quality education and know they are loved." – Katie
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"Respect is a key component to any successful relationship. It deepens relational capacity and creates a foundation from which trust is developed. When you show respect to others you show that they matter, that you care about them, and that you want them to be a part of your “team”." – Kara
"By showing someone respect I am letting them know that I think highly of them and care about them. Hopefully by doing this I will earn their respect, and they will treat not just me, but others in the same way." - Brian
How do you define respect?
