Our Opinion: Respect: A fundamental for education

"A child who is allowed to be disrespectful to his parents will not have true respect for anyone."

- The Rev. Billy Graham

The popular evangelist's quote - recently posted on Facebook by a co-worker - triggered thoughts about the role of respect in connection with public education, a subject of this forum on Wednesday and Thursday.

We don't pretend to be experts in the social sciences, but we believe greater respect for educators and education, as an institution, would go a long way toward improving the public school environment.

Respect, typically, must be earned.

We believe both educators and education deserve that. They are committed to instructing and empowering students to pursue productive careers and lifestyles.

That does not mean educators or educational systems are perfect.

Imperfection, however, is a part of being human and, consequently, a component of any system, operation or institution created by humans.

If we cease to respect anyone who, or anything that, is imperfect, we will respect nothing.

Respect is active, not passive. It involves recognizing worth and value - of person, place or thing - and being willing to work to make it better.

And, as Graham's quote suggests, respect begins and is nurtured at home.

In recent years, character education - including the concept of respect - has become part of the curriculum in the schools.

As journalists, we have gotten to know a number of educators past and present and - to a person - they care deeply about education and are committed to helping students learn.

The attraction of the job is teaching, not conflict, confrontation or discipline.

Respect what they do. They've earned it.