Teachers are among society's most influential members. Students should respect teachers in a classroom setting because teachers shape their minds and journey toward academic, personal, spiritual growth. Parents play an essential role in teaching their children to respect their teachers. When parents instill in their children the importance of respecting teachers, it creates a more peaceful and productive classroom environment.
Here are six ways parents can teach their children to respect their teachers.
1. Lead by example.
Children are usually a reflection of their parents' communication style and behavior, so it is very important for parents to set a positive example. Parents are encouraged to show a respectful attitude in their interactions with others, including family members, coworkers, and community members. It is equally or more important for parents to take this same approach for their children’s teachers. When children notice their parents treating teachers with respect and kindness, they are more likely to imitate the same behavior toward their own teachers.
2. Teach respect.
Allah has mentioned in the Quran:
“Because everyone is created by God Almighty, the Maker of all, humans must treat one another with full honor, respect, and loving-kindness.”
(Surah Al-Isra, 17:70)
Parents are responsible for modeling and setting expectations on what is means to be respectfiul by actively listening themselves, using kind language, and recognizing other’s emotions. It is important to maintain respect in all family communication. For instance, parents should establish rules in their homes and not tolerate teasing, aggressive behavior, or being disrespectful to others. When mistakes happen, it is imperative to give clear and corrective feedback. This will help children to be more mindful of their misbehavior and help present them from repeating the same disrespectful behavior outside of the home.
Parents can assist their children in understanding the school rules better by reinforcing what they learned in the classroom and following family rules in general. The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Whoever would love to be delivered from the Hellfire and entered into Paradise, then let him die with faith in God and the Last Day, and let him treat the people the way he would love to be treated.”
(Sahih Muslim)
This perspective is fundamental because it helps children think about how their behavior affects others. Occasionally, children will behave in an unkind manner. Parents are encouraged to explain to them that their communication and behavior have consequences. It will reinforce empathy and give them a better understanding of why respect is significant.
3. Develop healthy habits.
Since children spend around 7 hours per day at school, parents need to ensure that they have healthy habits to maintain their concentration and stamina while being at school. Two particular areas deserve attention: healthy eating and sleep routines.
Healthy Eating: parents can provide their children with healthy foods at home and lunchtime. This will help their children receive the right amount of nutrients and maintain their energy levels during school hours.
Sleep Routines: “It is recommended that younger children get 9-11 hours of sleep, while older children get 8-10 hours of sleep.”1 If a child sleeps at a reasonable time on a consistent basis, it will allow them to be more alert during class and avoid daydreaming, sleeping, or other distrations. Parents can also monitor their children to ensure they complete all of their homework before bedtime.
4. Manage schoolwork.
Parents can help with their children’s schoolwork regularly by asking their children about what they learned at school on a daily basis. This will show that the parents are interested in their children's schoolwork and establish the importance of what they do there. Also, parents can help children keep track of their schoolwork, playing an active role for younger children, and a supportive role for older children.
For younger children, parents can encourage their children to use an agenda or calendar to record all of their homework, assignments, quizzes, and tests. It is a useful approach because it will make younger children more organized with their schoolwork and ensure it is completed on time.
Parents can ask their older children if they need assistance and guidance with their homework and assignments. In addition, parents can help interpret assignment instructions and review their homework without correcting it. This approach will help older children complete their homework independently without micromanaging it.
Parents should monitor their children’s progress through report cards, and regularly communicate with teachers if there are any concerns or questions. This is made a bit easier by electronic gradebooks and parent portals in many public or private school settings.
5. Practive self-reflection.
Parents can assist their children in using self-reflection during their daily lives. This can be done in different ways. First, parents can model self-reflection in their own behavior by discussing their own thoughts and emotions, explaining how they used self-reflection to make decisions or solve problems.
Second, parents can ask their children open-ended rather than closed-ended questions. For instance, they can ask their children, “What did you learn today?” rather than "Did you have a good day at school?" Asking open-ended questions will allow children to think critically and reflect on their own experiences. For younger children, parents are encouraged to teach them to express their emotions and thoughts using artwork (drawings, pictures, and other forms of self-expression). For older children, parents can encourage them to keep a journal. The older children can record their thoughts and emotions on a daily basis. Also, parents can have after-school discussions or “reflection time,” where older children reflect on their behavior and interactions during the day.
Another situation where parents can encourage their children to use self-reflection is when their children misbehaved or communicate that another student misbehaved at school. In either instance, the parent and child can discuss how the situation could have been handled differently to avoid frustration and miscommunication. In this manner, self-reflection is a simple and insightful tool for children to use in their daily lives to learn more about respecting others.
6. Show gratitude.
Parents can encourage their children to give gifts to their teachers. Giving gifts to teachers is a thoughtful gesture to show that the child is thankful for their hard work and dedication. Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Give each other gifts and you will love each other.”
(Al-Adab al-Mufrad)
Thus, the act of giving gifts is a beneficial exchange for the teacher and student. The teacher will feel happy and content, while the student will feel fulfillment and spiritual enrichment. Some examples of gifts to give teachers are gift cards, handmade crafts, engravable coffee mugs, or a teacher’s award. Indeed, a student giving a gift to a teacher will leave a profound and memorable impact.
Being a teacher is a challenging and demanding profession. It requires significant effort and dedication for teachers to prepare lessons and meet the needs of their students on a regular basis. Additionally, teachers must maintain a disciplined and respectful environment every day. Teachers have a profound impact on students by serving as mentors and supporters in their daily lives. When parents instill respect for teachers in their children, it fosters a more harmonious classroom atmosphere. Therefore, parents hold a crucial responsibility to teach their children respect both inside and outside the classroom.
End Notes
1 Sleep: Benefits and recommended amounts for children
Amanda Hasan is a graduate of the University of Toronto (Bachelor of Arts) and Humber College (Law Clerk). She is the author of Joyless, an Amazon novella that tells the story of a lonely teenage girl working at an amusement park. More recently, Amanda copyedited several children's stories for Compass Books. She also worked with Muslim Network TV writing scripts, securing guest speakers, and prepping for interviews. Amanda is currently residing in the Greater Toronoto Area with her family
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