Letter #6 – Why Kids Should Always Respect Their Teachers

Dear children,

This letter is about respect — especially for your teachers.

In your life, you will come across many teachers. Some of them, you will like and enjoy having classes with or speaking to. Then you will have the teachers that you’ll find strict but are good at teaching the subject (and you may possibly appreciate their knowledge later in life, I know I do). And then, there are the teachers you just wont get along with and it’s not just because you don’t enjoy the subject, its more that there is natural tension between you and that teacher. All that is normal! BUT! Its important that you hold yourself in a certain way in front of them no matter how you feel about that teacher.

If you don’t like a teacher, then that’s fine. You don’t have to force yourself to enjoy every interaction/lesson. But you must always stay polite, respectful, and calm in any interaction with that person. This is because, when you let yourself be rude to a teacher, you are training your brain to think that being disrespect to elders is acceptable (which it is not), and that habit will follow you into every part of life. Instead just be calm and bite your tongue. Don’t be tempted to retaliate or make any snide remarks – that is true strength right there. And if you can away knowing you did that, then well done, ill be proud of you!

Showing respect to teachers isn’t about agreeing with everything that person says. It’s about showing discipline, patience, and self-control when conversing. Think of it as training your character. Staying calm doesn’t make you weak — it makes you wise.

Here’s something important to remember:

Your first teacher/mentor/coach in life are your parents. If you are lucky enough to have parents guiding you, treasure that and don’t take it for granted. Not every child has that opportunity and that’s why respecting your school teachers/coaches/mentors and other adults becomes even more important. These people can often bring lessons from their own lives – their struggles, experiences, and wisdom, which you haven’t lived yet.

Of course, not every adult is a role model. Some will try to lead you astray, possibly pushing you towards laziness, antisocial behaviour, or worse. That’s why respect doesn’t mean you should blindly follow people without questioning. Instead, you should be listening to those who have proven themselves, you know: those who are credible, experienced, and genuinely want the best for you.

The thing you need to realise is that everyone will try to give you advice in life. The skill you need to learn here is who to listen to. Teachers, especially those who care deeply for their students (and that really does exist), are among the wise voices you’ll hear.

Respect also spreads.

When you respect your teachers, your teachers notice — and it makes them want to give more of their energy to help you succeed. One act of respect creates a ripple effect that can last for years. I remember at school, I was always so kind to all the staff there (which included the cooks, the cleaners and so on), and guess what?

There were benefits to it. I knew things before other teachers knew and the cooks would always put a special treat into only my packed lunch when I had sports classes. This was all because they appreciated my kindness towards them, especially as they told me a lot of the rich kids there were so rude to them. Anyway, I went off on a tangent!

So remember kids: be polite, listen carefully, learn with humility. You don’t need dozens of teachers you adore. But the ones you respect will leave their mark on your life forever. 🙂

And just like showing gratitude for gifts, respecting your teachers is another way of recognising the effort others make for you. 👉 [Read our letter on gratitude here.]

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So now that you know what to do — go apply it.

You’ll learn faster, grow stronger, and feel prouder every time you practise.

And if you’d like help getting started — we’ve made something special for you.✨
Respect & Gratitude Worksheets — activities that help you practise listening, saying thank you, and seeing the value in those who guide you.

👉 [Click here to download your Respect Pack]

Love you lots,
Mum and Dad