"I Act With Respect"

John Slyer

"We can find the courage to apologize, make amends, and rebuild the trust..."

“Thanks for speaking to our students and faculty today. My students and I really enjoyed your message a great deal. I just want you to know that you made a very positive impression on my students.

You were a 100%= 99% + 1% for them all. Your stories and video clips hit the spot and I know that it opened their eyes.

We will “pay it forward”.

How Do You Start Your Day in the Classroom?
I start with an enthusiastic “good morning!” everyday. I try to help students find the good in the world by telling them positive stories and sharing with them some of the struggles I face too.

I try to think about the students lives (and everyone’s) everyday. I was once a kid who had way more going on than most would have ever known.

With two handicapped parents, my two brothers and I struggled with poverty, academic challenges and family dysfunctions. I know that the kids I teach (and coach) have baggage too and I try to take care of them well, since they are all valuable and need to know they are cared for and respected.

Respect has become more important for kids now since the unfortunate testing craze has made the kids who struggle feel as if they are valued based on their test scores too. It is my responsibility to help them become the best they can be.

I would like to tell you about the China Plate of Trust that I share with my students every day.

The China Plate of Trust
A China plate is very delicate and yet it is designed to be used and not just stored away in a cabinet. It’s always great to eat from a China plate and we all know what happens eventually if you use it a great deal.

With use, China plates get chipped and broken by accident. If it’s not destroyed completely it might even be repaired with some time and effort. Small chips may not even be noticed. Large cracks are something that many can learn to accept, especially if they were created accidentally by someone important in one’s life.

Nevertheless, one who continues to give China plates to those who are irresponsible also holds some of the responsibility for the broken plates. It would be foolish to hand the China plates over to someone who is irresponsible and /or does not respect its value.

We’ve all broken someone’s trust, even if by accident. It’s precious to the other and if we care for them, hopefully we can find the courage to apologize, make amends, rebuild the trust and take steps to help prevent ourselves from breaking ones trust again.

We all should also have the courage to allow others to rebuild trust and at the same time not be taken advantage of either. It is wise to be careful of where you place your trust. Be careful not to hand out China plates or trust in an irresponsible manner. If you put trust in the wrong hands it may be broken and yet, if you don’t take the risk to trust others, you will also be disappointed with a life that is less rich.

John Slyer is Science Coach, Teacher and Student at Shaker Junior High School in the North Colonie School District.