Give to get

10 of 10 in the series ‘Children Home Rules - They’re Not Just for Kids’

Here at W. Kim Tae Kwon Do, we have a set of rules that we give every child that joins our program.  This list is called Children Home Rules.  Basically, it’s a set of rules that aren’t any different from the rules that parents already have at home.  They aren’t new, but they serve as a handy tool for reinforcement.

Children Home Rule #10 - 

Children must show respect to their teachers and peers.

Raise your hand.  Don’t talk while the teacher is talking.  By doing these, you are showing respect to your teachers and peers.

Basics, right?

I do believe that we’ve all had this training in one form or another. 

However, this is tougher outside of the classroom.

I like to tell students that when they come to train at class, there should be a sole focus on why they are there and what they are doing.  Namely, Tae Kwon Do and all the values and disciplines practiced here.

That being said, W. Kim is one of the few places you can go and expect respect.  There is mutual respect displayed among peers and between students and instructors.

Unfortunately, you won’t necessarily find that respect in many places outside of our school, or in places where it is enforced, like a school classroom.

The problem is that whether it's an academic classroom setting or Tae Kwon Do class, we have a tendency to abide by the rules of conduct for as long as we are in those settings.

I remember when I was in high school that overwhelmingly, everyone abided by the rules of the classroom.  Sure, there were a couple here and there who chose not to, but there were very few.  The problem was that there were two cultures.  A classroom culture where everyone ascribed to the same values, and then the social culture.  The social culture was filled with all manners of behavior.  I remember witnessing two students who were almost at each other's throats before class started.  We all thought it was going to escalate into a fight.  But then the bell rang and they went into class.  In class they were cordial and you never would have expected them to get into the fight they did right after class was let out.

I don’t have the time or willingness to try to delve into all the avenues and arguments of societal living.  What I can argue and advocate for is taking this home rule and applying it to our lives in every facet.

It seems that we are living in a society with ever increasing ‘me-centered’ thinking.  It is common to hear that someone needs to have accomplished something of merit to earn our respect.  I would love to live in a society where everyone treats each other the same way we do in Tae Kwon Do.  The expectation being that you get respect on the most basic level even before someone knows you.

I’m not saying that a lot of people don’t do this already - there are many who do.  Unfortunately, there are more and more cases of people who will show respect only to get what they want. And when they can’t get what they want, it reveals who they truly are.

I encourage anyone reading to continue to rise above the selfish tendencies and give respect.  I believe the more we give respect, the more we will get it back.

That is a beautiful thing.

Photo credit - Max Fischer