Responsibility is a key issue to discuss with children and adolescents. As I pointed out on previous posts, as human beings we are free to choose how to live our life, and once we have made choices it is crucial for us to assume responsibility for those choices. What does this means? To be responsible is to be consciously free for good or for bad; it is to know that every choice we make define us as people. This is why it is vital to face the consequences of our acts and not just the ones that have positive outcomes but the negative ones too. This seems very difficult to achieve; but as teachers we should show our students the importance of being responsible for our acts even though they may feel ashamed or afraid. Admitting having done something wrong is much more valuable than lying, because in the long run it would destroy us in the inside. domingo, 25 de mayo de 2008
The naked truth is always better than the best dressed lie.
Responsibility is a key issue to discuss with children and adolescents. As I pointed out on previous posts, as human beings we are free to choose how to live our life, and once we have made choices it is crucial for us to assume responsibility for those choices. What does this means? To be responsible is to be consciously free for good or for bad; it is to know that every choice we make define us as people. This is why it is vital to face the consequences of our acts and not just the ones that have positive outcomes but the negative ones too. This seems very difficult to achieve; but as teachers we should show our students the importance of being responsible for our acts even though they may feel ashamed or afraid. Admitting having done something wrong is much more valuable than lying, because in the long run it would destroy us in the inside. 
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How can we teach our learners to face responsibility, Lucía? Can you think of teacher behaviours that may foster or discourage such learning?
At some working places I know of, teachers are to report their own entrance and exit time... How would you feel if asked to report yourself if arriving a couple of minutes late (no "real harm", let's say the students were just settling down as you got into the classroom)? Believe me, the idea has brought quite a stir among the staff!
;-)
Gladys
I totally agree with the fact that we, teachers, should teach through our actions. There are times when we act without realising what we are doing, and in doing that, we may transmit the wrong message to our students. The other day for example, I was late for our Ethics lesson, not because a traffic jam, but because it took me longer than I´d thought to get a sandwich. At that moment, I didn’t realise that by doing that I could have offended my teacher or my classmates. Then I give a though and realise that it was wrong, though it was not my intention to be disrespectful as I acted without thinking it carefully. This is a simple example of things we can do in front of our students without realising and by regularly doing this kind of things we can give an ambiguous example to them. If for instance, we tell them it´s important to be on time for appointments and on the other hand, we ourselves arrive late at our lessons every day, students will think you’re being contradictory or even hypocritical. I know we can´t be perfect in everything but we need to stop from time to time and reflect on our behaviour in front of a class and to see if it accords with what we promote as correct to our students.If we do this I believe, it´s a way to foster responsibility in them.
Aha! An insightful moment turns another "routine" or "whim" into a "human act", and thus enables you to consider its coherence with your beliefs... What can I say??? COOL!
As for what our learners will learn from us when our actions don't match our words, I think there's a lot bigger danger than their thinking us hypocritical: their missing our words altogether and learning the actions instead. You know, body language is a lot more powerful than verbal language in communication! :-P
Loved your linking this to an ordinary event, then turning it into "extra-ordinary" 8-D (and I wasn't offended by your arriving late, though of course I'll appreciate it if you can make it in time in future!)
A very warm hug,
Gladys
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