Respect is an important part of the learning experience in the classroom. In a classroom full of students from diverse backgrounds, it is crucial that students learn to respect each other and their teachers. Mutual respect improves the educational experience for both students and teachers. According to an academic study authored by Shannon Audley-Piotrowski, Yeh Hsueh, and Robert Cohen, respect is a crucial component of successful classrooms. Respect fosters student growth and helps contribute to active learning, which is an important part of any student’s learning cycle. In the study it was noticed that active learning is not a particular method, but a shared attitude between teachers and students. Having that shared attitude of respect in the classroom ensures students take their education into their own hands and become active students rather than passive listeners. That mutual shared respect allows for a better overall quality in education, which can positively impact students in both the short term and the long term. 

Respect in the classroom requires teachers letting students know that they care about them. There are many ways teachers respecting students can lead to a positive outcome. One way is by rewarding students who treat other students with respect by praising them and providing collaborative learning opportunities such as group projects that build relationships and respect. These group projects allow students to increase collaborative skills which are a necessity in today’s environment as well as increasing the respect between collaborators.  Collaborative projects have shown to increase respect between students as well as the relationship between students and teachers. The responsibility doesn’t just fall on the teacher; it has to be with both the teacher and the students. For teachers, actions such as calling students by their preferred name, being punctual and maintaining a schedule are easy ways to build respect with your students. On the students’ side of things, it is important to address other students politely and be sensitive to their feelings. Mutual respect in the classroom has been scientifically proven to improve the experience of students and teachers in the classroom. 

In the end, you should be respectful in the classroom. By being more respectful, you will see a positive outcome not only with the learning that is involved, but also with how you interact with your classmates as well as your students from a teacher perspective. These are all building blocks in making a more respectful world that will allow us to end racism once and for all.