School Board Chief Wants More Civility, in a Manner of Standing

School board President Katherine Smith wants to turn back the clock in the Anaheim high schools. Back to the 1940s and ‘50s, when children jumped to their feet in respect whenever an adult entered a classroom, and, according to Smith, the United States “was a civil, compassionate and caring country.”

Tonight the school board will discuss Smith’s proposal to have its 22 middle and high schools “encourage” teenagers to spring out of their seats in silent respect whenever an adult comes into the room. Her proposal also calls on the 37,000 students in the Anaheim Union High School District to address adults as “Sir” or “Ma’am” and teachers to address students as “Miss” and Mr.”

If approved, Smith said, the policy would be a first for the West Coast. In the past, Smith has successfully pushed for school uniforms and a daily moment of silence.

“It’s just preparing them for the future,” said Smith, 60. “What I want children to understand is when you meet an adult for the first time, it’s good common decency to stand.”

Supt. Jan Billings said parents are burning up the Internet in favor of the old-fashioned idea. District officials received 15 e-mails about the proposal Tuesday; all but two praised the idea.

Teachers and students interviewed Wednesday were not convinced.

“I think it’s wrong,” said Addy Stenger, 18, a senior at Cypress High School. “You’re going to school to learn things, not to be militarized into an institution.”

Stenger added that she feels a great deal of respect for her teachers, and shows that respect in the way she addresses them.

“There’s other ways of referring to people besides ‘sir’ and ‘ma’am’ that make you show respect,” Stenger added.

Carol Comparsi, president of the district’s teachers’ union, said many teachers oppose the idea because it would disrupt precious class time to address a nonexistent problem. Each time students stand up, she said, the teacher must spend time having them settle down again.

The students already show respect to their teachers, Comparsi said.

“It’s just a different time now,” she said. “I don’t think standing is something that is necessary in showing respect. That is not my view of what designates respect.”

Comparsi said she will speak with representatives from the district’s schools today to find out if teachers want her to formally oppose the proposal. When the idea was first brought to the board last year, teachers were against it, but relaxed somewhat when they learned it might be voluntary.

Smith has not yet ironed out details for how the program would work. Some ideas include allowing teachers to decide whether they want the program, or making it begin with all incoming seventh-graders, said board member Harald Martin.

Some principals questioned whether the program would be useful.

“Respect comes in different forms,” said Susan McCance, principal of Brookhurst Junior High School. “I’m very comfortable with the respect our students show.”

But Martin, who supports the program, said that even polite students can be more respectful.

“Plenty of respect on campus doesn’t mean there can’t be more,” Martin said. Having students stand in respect when a teacher enters the room is “part and parcel of an overall structure whereby raising standards means something.”

Martin said school board members probably will vote on the policy later this year.