There seems to be less cultivation of discipline and more cultivation of disrespect in the way children are being raised. I have personally seen kids as young as six or seven years old publically behaving and talking in ways that I would have never even imagined doing when I was their age. I have also heard stories of pre-k and kindergarten teachers who can attest to the fact that there is a clear lack of respect among younger generations, and it is only getting worse with time. In fact, one teacher's experience indicates that the increased use of profanity is the most dominant way in which children express their disrespect towards teachers.
Some children would directly call her a slur, often repeating what their parents had said about her. So, what's the deal with this rising disrespectful behavior? Why is such a thing happening when years ago kids wouldn't even dare confront or oppose authority in the way that is seen today? There are two apparent factors that strongly influence how a certain child behaves: parenting and culture, specifically media culture. In my opinion, the former is much greater in power than the latter, since with certain types of parenting, children can transcend any negative effects of media culture. In all honesty, it starts at home.
If parents raise their child in an environment that endorses the use of explicit language and a disregard for other people, especially authority, then chances are, that child will grow up to be a person that is reflective of that. In order to prevent disrespect, there must be consequences for children's actions.
If parents raise a child in an environment that encourages and demands respect, care and gratitude towards oneself and others, then it is likely that the child will live his or her life in that way. In order to prevent disrespect, children must be held accountable for any displays of disrespect and most importantly, they must be shown how to be respectful and considerate of themselves and of others. To add, adults, whether they're parents or not, should be mindful of the things they say in front of their children, especially about others.
We all know children have the ability to absorb, retain and imitate that which they hear and see from the people around them. Another component that contributes to the increase of disrespect among youth is media culture. As a strong presence in the lives of youth, media culture can impact the ways in which individuals behave and engage with others. As mentioned previously, children tend to repeat that which they see, and so by being exposed to some of the negative behaviors that are apparent in media culture, children can apply those same behaviors in their lives and in their interactions with others.
With the right parenting, children would not be vulnerable to some of the disrespectful behaviors that media culture promotes, and would recognize the importance and value of being respectful towards themselves and others.
