Respectful thoughts

Photo - Sketa Oz

If your friends never listened to a word you said,
Talked to someone else every time you spoke,
Would you be annoyed, frustrated - even angry?

If your friends mucked around with a computer you bought,
Bashed on the keys until they broke,
Would you be happy, calm - even laughing?

If your friends received a card you gave them,
Draw, designed and slaved hours over to please them,
Would you be confused, disappointed, even hate them -
If they took a pen - scribbled on it, ripped it up,
Ran away to a nearby friend to make fun of you, swear at you - even throw things at you?

Keeping those feelings and thoughts in mind...

Photo - Sketa Oz

If you never listened to a word your teacher said,
Talked to someone else every time your teacher spoke,
Could they be annoyed, frustrated - even angry?

If you mucked around with a computer your teacher bought,
Bashed on the keys until they broke,
Would they be happy, calm - even laughing?

If you received a paper or workbook - your teacher gave you,
That they wrote, designed and slaved hours over to help you,
Would they be confused, disappointed, even hate you
If you took a pen - scribbled on it, ripped it up,
Ran around to a nearby friend to make fun of them, swear at them - even throw things at them?

Keeping those feelings and thoughts in mind...

Is there any difference between what happens to you and what happens to your teacher?

Are you, your efforts and property deserving of respect?
Are your teachers, their efforts and property deserving of respect?

Can we assume - you and your teacher feel the same way?
Can we assume - you and your teacher deserve the same levels of respect?
Can we assume - a teachers' reaction to disrespectful behaviour is just a mirror image of how you would react, if you were treated disrespectfully?

Can you answer this one last question?

Could you start every day anew - giving and receiving equal respect?