L’Observateur / July 3, 1999

DEAR EDITOR: Once again the world seems to think Louisiana is out of step. This time,the world is wrong. I applaud Gov. Mike Foster for proposing legislationrequiring that public school students address teachers respectfully, and I applaud the legislature for enacting the bill into law.

I originally proposed the same thing in 1995, as part of my campaign for the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board. Soon after I was elected, Iasked the board to adopt a policy requiring students in all our schools to a address all adults, teachers and janitors alike, as “sir” or “ma’am.” Itwould also have emphasized the use of three other phrases as well: “please,” “thank you” and “excuse me.” But it got little support. One boardmember said terms like that were obsolete and would not help solve discipline problems. My argument then and now is that if children learnobedience and respect at an early age, there are far fewer discipline problems later on.

Now the issue’s gone national, to a general chorus of hoots and derision.

One columnist describes the new law as an authoritarian reaction to the Columbine High School tragedy, saying Louisiana has tried to substitute a law for what’s really needed in children’s lives – proper parenting. Otherwriters also like to argue that schools are for teaching things like the three R’s, and things such as discipline, character and respect are best taught at home. Personally, I couldn’t agree more. But to borrow a linestraight from one of them, “The problem is that it doesn’t work that way.”In a letter to the editor, you were kind enough to publish, I pointed out that while the right places for teaching are home and in church, the fact is that many children get little or no training at home. And it’s a certaintythat if they’re not learning things like that at Mommy’s knee, they’re probably not even going to church. Mommy’s not even bothering. That meansthat for far too many kids, the only getting-off point on the road leading straight from Mom’s house to the jailhouse is the schoolhouse.

As a result, there is really no option. Along with readin’, writin’ and’rithmetic, they also have to teach schools they must teach two additional “R’s” – respect and responsibility.

There’s also criticism that the new law has no teeth. “What will you do ifthey refuse,” asked one opponent, “expel them?” That’s as foolish as pointing out that demanding respect will immediately solve all of the discipline problems in today’s schools. The Governor and the legislatureapparently knew that there was no need to make this law punitive.

Kindergarten teachers and those who teach the next few grades already know that it’s enough to simply make their expectations clear. Someteachers already demand this. Many others want to but don’t because theyknow many parents who don’t teach their own children to respect them will object to others who try. And they know that when they wind upcrossways with parents on discipline issues, many school systems will refuse to support them, especially if the parents come armed with a lawyer.

No one is born with self-discipline or self-control. It must be learned byall, and must be taught by someone. Let them scoff. This time, Louisiana’sright.

Russ Wise LaPlace

Copyright © 1998, Wick Communications, Inc.

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