Let’s make Aretha Franklin proud.

Teachers complain about the attitudes of students, and students are constantly complaining about teacher policies being unfair.

We contribute this problem to the lack of mutual respect between both teachers and students.

We are aware of the fact that many teachers perceive high school students as lazy and unmotivated, which is sometimes true, but many teachers take this perception to its full extent. They tend to classify all high school students as lazy and unmotivated, which is completely unfair.

However, in the same sense, high school students too often go into the school year expecting to have the classic boring teacher and knowing their school year will consist of sleeping in class and barely trying to get by.

We urge both teachers and students to be more respectful of each other.

It is true that high school students are very hard headed, but in the same way some of the teachers’ policies seem a bit tough as well.

During the high school years, students are developing the type of learning that most benefits the  type of person they are.

Some students are visual learners, some are audio learners, and others are more kinetic learners and need hands-on examples to help them understand the material.

A good way for both teachers and students to get off on the right foot at the beginning of the year is to have a discussion that allows for students to express the best way for them to have the utmost success during the school year.

We are not saying that a teacher should change his or her classroom rules, because following directions is an essential part of not only school, but society as well.

All we are saying is that the teacher-student relationship would benefit from an open discussion in which both sides explain expectations and goals for the school year.

Respecting one’s elders is an essential part of a functioning society. Therefore, when the people in authority respect the youth who are under them, it goes a long way in establishing a good environment.

To be honest, it gets a little frustrating when students get blasted and disciplined for rules that are completely unnecessary.

Springfield, for the most part, is a very tight-knit community, but we believe that a little more respect from both teachers and students would make it that much better.