by Carol Flett

Created on: December 02, 2010

Johnny's teacher calls to inform Mom and Dad that Johnny has not been obeying classroom rules. He has also been sassing her, and she wants the parents to deal with him. Mom and Dad are upset with Johnny, but they are more upset with the teacher. If she was a better teacher she would know how to handle her students, and besides, the classroom rules are stupid. No wonder their son has a problem with her. Johnny picks up on his parents' attitude, and milks it for all its worth. He is learning from his parents to be a rebel.

Mary has heard her parents political discussions all her life. She knows their local politician is a crook. Her Mom and Dad have worked hard to get him out of office, and yet they still treat the man with respect, and when she tries to make some snide remark about him they remind her that she needs to respect his office.

Some day Mary may disagree with something her parents say or do, but they are her parents, and she respects that position. She is learning not to be a rebel. But Johnny's parents are not so blessed. Johnny is very likely to rebel against his parents authority just as he did with his teacher.

There is a distinct difference between standing up for what is right and disrespecting authority. Parents can take a stand against a politician and generally their children will follow their lead. They can check into his credentials, dig into his past promises, and check for fulfilment of those promises, all without being disrespectful of his position.

Disrespect is a lack of honor due the position. Disrespect usually starts out with discussions that include derogatory jokes and comments easily imitated by others, especially by family.

It is an observable fact that anything parents do will often be taken to access by their offspring. If a parent makes fun of an official, the offspring will have no respect for that office. If a parent shows contempt for the rules made by that official, the child will frequently show contempt for those rules as well, and often the child's show of contempt will be emphasised with acts of defiance.

Defiance is rebellion. Hence the child imitating his disrespectful parent becomes a rebel. The source of the child's rebellion is, in many cases, the disrespect for authority displayed in the parent.

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