The Respectful Mind

Background:
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Its our biological nature to delineate groups, identify with and value members of one
while being cautious or antagonistic to others.

Respect is accepting differences, learning to live with them, and valuing people of
different groups.

Living in an age of modern warfare and global mobilization, in the words of poet W. H.
Auden, We must love one another or die.

Developmental milestones:
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At a young age children will display comfort and inclusion to another, yet will also fight
and take objects with the intent of injuring.

By school years, children identify with groups and make distinctions in color, gender,
language, dress style, and economic status.

Ideally, the responsibility of engendering respect lies on the parents and in the childs
community, but this unlikely to be free of in-group prejudices or ideas.

The Role of Educators:

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Provide role models and offer lessons that encourage a sympathetic stance towards
others- mainly how we treat other teachers, other adults, and students.

Of the disciplines, history, language arts, and humanities are crucial areas where respect
can and should be taught.
o Political correctness- when a group is specifically treated in a positive light and
shielded from criticism because of a mistreatment in the past. This positive
discrimination is often derogatory because it simultaneously points out the
mistreatments and handicaps of the group.
o Political Incorrectness- practice of undercutting political correctness
o We should avoid using acts of respect to get what we want, and displaying false
respect.

The Respectful person:

Offers the benefit of the doubt to all human beings

Avoids thinking in group terms as much as possible

Is open to admitting that their judgment may have been wrong

Is on alert for behaviors that reinforce feelings of respect.

Strategies:
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Kids should work together in different groups to get to know each other personally

Read books, watch movies, play games and simulations where respectful relations
between individuals and groups are modeled and fostered.

Address explicit issues of group membership and group conflict, looking into the history
and thinking of how to create a productive connection in the future

Value of Respectfulness
-

Seek to understand one another (despite differences), help one another, and work together
for a common goal

Respect of virtues (respect over freedom of speech)

There is no pure originality, rather authentic cultural traditions- all societies learn from
one another historically and contemporaneously.
To overcome hatred, rivalry, burdens of history, it is crucial to find a common ground.